/ 

& 


A  L  N  O  M  U  C: 


OR 


THE    GOLDEN    RULE, 


TALE   OF  THE  SEA. 


WITH    TWENTY-FOUR     ENGRAVINGS. 


BOSTON: 

JAMES    B.   DOW,    PUBLISHER. 

H 


*         1842. 


Entered  according  to  an  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year 
1837,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of 
Massachusetts. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  1. —  The  parting  scene  :  the 
landsman's  farewell  and  thf.  sailor's 
farewell ;  a  rule  also  to  guid?.  those 
who  embark  on  a  long  voyage,  appli- 
cable to  all  who  are  sailing  through 
the  ocean  of  life, 5 

CHAPTER  II. — Home  sickness :  the  lands- 
man's introduction  to  his  shipmates  ; 
his  feelings  on  taking  a  last  view  of 
his  native  land,  and  resolutions  for 
the  voyage, 17 

CHAPTER  III. — Sea  sickness  :  its  feel- 
ings and  effects  ;  rough  methods  of 
cure  ;  application  of  the  Golden  Rule,  .  29 

CHAPTER  IV. —  Old  Sailor  :  some  notice 
of  him — his  good  qualities  and  rogue- 
ish  propensities,  and  the  trouble  the 
last  brought  upon  him, 41 

CHAPTER  V. —  The  worth  of  a  dog's  good 
will:  not  to  be  despised;  kindness 
never  thrown  away  even  upon  a  dog,  .  53 


- 

2051413 


CHAPTER  VI. — Some  account  of  one 
Land  Crab  :  a  crooked  stich  and  an 
odd  one,  with  more  courage  than  a 
bolder  man, 65 

CHAPTER  VII. — The  Revenge:  a  vil- 
lain ;  Land  Crab  suffers  for  his 
honesty, 77 

CHAPTER  VIII.—  The  Christian's  Re- 
venge :  application  of  the  Golden 
Rule, 89 

CHAPTER  IX. —  The  Tempest:  Ship  be- 
tween two  seas  ;  great  danger  ;  the 
courageous  sailor ;  benefit  of  the 
Golden  Ride, 101 

CHAPTER  X.—  The  Indian :  naked  sav- 
ages ;  comical  dress  ;  the  sailor's  love 
of  tobacco,  and  economy  in  its  use  y 
culprit  saved  from  punishment,  ,  .  ,  113 

CHAPTER  XI. —  The  Conspiracy  /  pre- 
cautions on  Northwest  coast  :  attack 
from  natives :  value  of  an  Indian's 
gratitude  ;  results  of  the  Golden  Rule,  125 

CHAPTER  XII. —  The  Conclusion  :  the 
faithful  wife  ;  the  grateful  chief :  the 
many  advantages  of  following  the 
Golden  Rule, 137 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE   PARTING   SCENE. 

"  GOD  bless  you  my  boy,"  said  Mr.  Dil- 
loway  laying  his  hand  upon  his  son's  head. 
"  May  the  God  of  your  fathers  be  with  you 
jn  all  your  wanderings  and  bring  you  back 
to  your  home  in  peace." 

George  made  no  answer,  for  his  feelings 
choked  him  ;  his  heart  seemed  to  be  in  his 
throat,  and  he  could  not  speak.  He  was 
just  of  age  and  about  to  leave  his  father's 
house  in  the  pursuits  of  commerce,  for  a  far 
distant  land.  Before  he  should  again  visit 
the  home  of  his  childhood,  he  expected  to 
measure  the  circumference  of  the  earth  in 
his  wanderings,  and  that  three  several  times 
would  the  sun  perform  his  circuit,  changing 
the  seasons.  Three  times  as  the  bright  lu- 
minary moved  southward,  would  the  green 
leaf  of  summer  put  on  the  seared  aspect  of 
autumn,  and  its  genial  heats  give  way  before 
the  chilling  blasts  of  winter.  Three  times 
1  * 


6  4LNOMUC  :    OR 

would  the  face  of  nature  be  gladdened  by 
the  mild  influence  of  the  spring ;  and  the 
seared  leaf  of  autumn  and  cold  winds  of 
winter  would  for  a  while  be  forgotten,  amid 
the  smiling  blossoms  of  the  renovated  year. 

But  would  the  change  be  confined  to  the 
face  of  nature  ?  George  knew  that  it  would 
not :  before  his  return  infancy  would  have 
progressed  into  childhood—^childhood  would 
have  passed  into  youth — or  youth  be  ripen- 
ed into  manhood :  he  could  never  again  see 
his  young  friends  as  he  had  seen  them ;  all, 
all  must  be  changed.  But  was  he  sure  of 
meeting  even  the  youngest  of  those  he  left 
behind ! 

Many  a  bright  blossom  of  the  spring  is 
nipped  by  an  untimely  frost :  and  many  a 
fond  parent's  hope,  is  claimed  by  the  fell 
destroyer,  in  the  first  budding  of  its  young 
existence.  And  what  may  come  upon  in- 
fancy, childhood  and  youth,  is  sure  to  come 
upon  old  age. 

The  tender  plant  may  escape  the  frosts 
of  spring,  may  flourish  and  become  strong 
under  the  genial  influence  of  summer,  and 


THE    GOLDEN    RULE.  7 

when  mature  it  may  bear  abundant  fruit  at 
the  harvest :  but  at  length  the  blasts  of  au- 
tumn will  shrivel  its  leaf  and  the  frosts  of 
winter  bind  up  the  current  of  its  sap ;  and 
it  will  become  a  dead  and  inert  mass,  as 
though  it  had  not  been. 

George  looked  at  his  mother,  the  friend 
of  his  earliest  days.  Her  delicate  frame 
seemed  unable  to  withstand  the  shocks  of 
a  boisterous  world  ;  the  lamp  of  life  flicker- 
ed, as  if  the  first  rude  breath  might  extin- 
guish it.  He  turned  to  his  father  :  his  tall 
and  manly  form  was  still  erect  and  vigorous, 
but  the  frost  was  upon  his  temples,  showing 
that  the4  winter  of  his  days  had  come ;  and 
the  hour,  could  not  be  far  distant,  when  the 
hoary  head  must  bow  and  the  vigor  of  man- 
hood be  extinguished  in  the  grave.  And 
how  could  he  tell  that  that  hour  would  be 
delayed  till  his  return  !  how  then  could  he 
leave  these  his  best  friends,  never  perhaps 
to  see  them  more  on  earth  !  He  felt  that 
he  could  not. 

The  ship  in  which  George  Dilloway  was 
to  sail  was  then  lying  in  the  stream — the 


8  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

anchor  was  apeak,  and  the  sails  hanging 
in  festoons  from  the  yards  ready  to  be  drop- 
ped at  an  instant's  warning ;  then  they  must 
be  sheeted  home  to  drive  the  vessel  to  her 
far  distant  destination.  George  had  been 
very  earnest  in  preparation,  and  with  the 
propensity  to  wander  so  natural  to  youth 
fully  developed,  had  been  looking  forward 
to  his  expected  adventures  :  but  when  the 
hour  came,  he  found  it  was  another  thing 
than  he  had  thought  of,  to  leave  the  home  of 
his  youth  and  all  the  associations  of  his  early 
love.  And  now  but  for  very  shame,  he 
would  have  thrown  by  his  preparations  and 
his  long  cherished  hopes.  For  a  moment 
he  deliberated,  then  stirred  up  his  resolution 
and  turned  to  go. 

He  could  not  speak,  but  squeezed  a  hand 
of  each  of  his  parents  in  one  of  his.  His 
mother  too,  was  overcome  and  could  not 
restrain  her  sobs ;  but  his  father,  with  man- 
ly resolution  endeavored  to  master  his  feel- 
ings, and  said  :  "  Stop  a  moment,  my  son, 
'I  have  one  word  more  to  say  before  you 
leave  us." 


THE   GOLDEN   RULE.  9 

Mr.  Dilloway  was  a  sincere  and  single- 
minded  Christian,  who  endeavored  to  reg- 
ulate his  life  by  the  plain  English  of  the 
Bible.  He  had  sought  to  rear  his  son  in  the 
nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord :  his 
chief  fear  for  his  boy  now  was,  that  he  would 
be  forgetful  of  the  instructions  of  his  youth, 
and  that  the  religious  feeling  which  had 
begun  to  develope  itself  in  his  son,  would  be 
extinguished  before  it  could  ripen  to  the 
perfection  of  the  Christian  character.  He 
had  formerly  been  on  a  similar  voyage  to 
the  one,  on  which  George  was  about  to  em- 
bark ;  and  he  well  knew  that  it  abounded 
in  temptations  and  trials,  which  would  often 
prove  a  severe  test  to  Christian  principle 
Why  he  should  have  consented  to  expose, 
his  son  to  such  an  ordeal,  has  nothing  to  do 
with  our  present  purpose  :  but  the  youth 
was  going  and  the  father's  heart  and  prayers 
would  go  with  him. 

Mr.  Dilloway  remembered  that  on  the 
voyage  he  must  come  in  contact  with  many 
savage  and  half  civilized  people ;  and  he 
well  knew  the  propensity  of  those  who  visit 


10  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

such,  to  treat  them  with  injustice  :  he  was 
therefore  anxious  to  impress  upon  his  son 
the  golden  precept  of  his  Saviour,  by  which 
if  a  man  will  rule  his  conduct,  he  shall  be 
blessed  himself  and  will  prove  a  blessing  to 
others. 

"  My  dear  boy,"  said  the  old  gentleman, 
placing  his  hand  upon  his  son's  head  :  "  I 
wish  you  always  to  remember  one  thing, 
and  that  is  to  do  to  others,  as  you  would 
have  others  do  to  you." 

"  Yes,  George,"  said  his  mother  smiling 
through  her  tears.  "  and  remember  whose 
precept  that  is." 

George  promised  sincerely  that  he  would 
endeavor  to  make  this  the  rule  of  his  con- 
duct, and  his  father  proceeded  : 

"  You  will  have  daily, — yes,  my  son, 
hourly  opportunities  for  the  exercise  of  this 
most  Christian  principle  on  board  your  ves- 
sel :  and  when  you  arrive  at  the  islands  in 
the  South  Sea,  or  upon  the  Northwest  Coast 
of  America,  the  calls  to  act  upon  this  rule 
will  be  much  increased ;  for  you  will  then 
be  among  a  race  over  whom  civilization 


THE  GOLDEN   RULE.  11 

will  give  you  many  advantages,  but  whose 
degradation  is  an  additional  claim  upon  you 
to  treat  them  with  tenderness." 

The  old  gentleman  was  here  interrupted 
by  the  entrance  of  another  person.  It  was 
no  other  than  the  captain  in  whose  ship 
George  was  to  sail.  "  Come,  Geordieman, 
we  are  all  holding  on  for  you ;  the  anchor's 
under  the  fore  foot,  and  the  lads  standing  by 
to  sheet  home. — Come,  come,  I  didn't  ex- 
pect to  find  you  blubbering  like  a  whipt 
school-boy — hold  up  your  head,  man,  pass 
your  swab  athwart  your  peepers,  and  get  up 
your  ground  tackle  :  what's  quickest  done, 
is  soonest  mended." 

Dick  Darrick  was  an  early  friend  of 
George  Dilloway  though  by  some  years  his 
senior,  and  the  advantage  of  going  in  his 
company,  was  one  inducement  with  George 
to  undertake  the  voyage.  Dick  was  a  frank, 
honest  hearted  sailor,  but  somewhat  rough 
and  noisy  withal ;  especially  when  by  a 
boisterous  carriage,  he  could  hope  to  hide 
the  workings  of  what  he  thought  human 


12  ALNOMUC :    OR 

weakness.  For  though  his  weather-beaten 
frame  seemed  seasoned  to  the  hardness  of  a 
pitch  knot,  yet  had  he  all  a  woman's  ten- 
derness of  heart.  This  was  a  source  of 
some  annoyance,  for  spite  of  himself,  it 
would  sometimes  appear. 

He  was  now  going  to  take  charge  of  a 
crew  of  hardy  seamen,  and  therefore  wished 
especially  to  avoid  any  appearance  of  what 
might  seem  an  unmanly  weakness.  So  it 
was  at  this  time,,  that  he  was  rather  more 
noisy  than  usual.  Besides  he  had  found  by 
experience  that  shortest  leave-takings  were 
always  the  best ;  and  for  himself,  he  gen- 
erally contrived  to  avoid  them  altogether. 

When  therefore,  Mr.  Dilloway  proposed 
to  accompany  his  son  to  the  ship,  he  would 
not  allow  it — "  No,  no,"  he  said,  "  we  shall 
only  have  a  second  edition  of  blubbering 
there.  You  needn't  fear,  but  George  '11 
get  his  share  of  salt  water  before  he  comes 
back." 

"  But  then,  Mr.  Darrick,  he's  to  be  gone 
so  long  !  "  exclaimed  the  .mother. 

"  Long  ! — not  at  all.     It  may  appear  long 


THE    GOLDEN   RULE.  13 

to  look  forward  to,  but  we  shall  be  back 
almost  before  you'll  have  a  chance  to  think 
of  us.  Why,  we'd  take  a  turn  round  the 
world  afore  you'd  spin  a  yarn  half  so  long. 
Besides,  he  won't  be  back  any  the  sooner, 
for  making  yourself  uncomfortable  about  it. 
Now,  how  do  you  'spose  I  took  leave  of  my 
wife?" 

"  I'm  sure  I  can't  tell,  Mr.  Darrick  !  " 
"  Well,  I'll  tell  ye,  I  just  didn't  take  leave 
at  all." 

"  But  you  intend  to  call  home  again,  be- 
fore you  go  on  board  ?  " 

"  Not  I,  indeed,  I  promise  you  !  " 
"  Sure,  Mr.    Darrick,  you  wouldn't  be 
gone  three  years  without  bidding  your  wife 
a  good  bye  ?  " 

"  Wouldn't  I ! — That's  just  what  I  mean 
to  do,  I  assure  you  ma'am.  I'll  tell  you 
how  I  did — When  the  time  came  that  I 
must  go,  I  found  I  had  left  something  up 
stairs — may  be,  I  forgot  it  on  purpose.  So 
I  goes  up  to  fetch  it,  and  the  wife  waits  at 
the  foot  of  the  stairs  to  take  leave  as  I  come 
down — meantime  I  dives  down  the  back 
2 


14  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

stairway,  and  out  at  another  door.  And 
she's  waiting  there  now  I  'spose,  and  I  shall 
be  under  way  afore  she  finds  I'm  gone : 
then  she'll  be  mad  enough,  and  that  '11  do 
her  good,  and  she  won't  think  o'  crying. 
She'll  get  over  the  mad  when  she  finds 
there's  no  one  to  be  mad  with,  so  all  '11  be 
right.  Come  along  Geordie,  it's  time  we 
were  off." 

"  Mrs.  Dilloway,"  continued  Darrick, 
putting  his  head  back  through  the  door, 
"you'll  have  an  eye  upon  the  poor  girl, 
won't  you  ;  you  know  she'll  have  need  of 
all  the  comfort  her  friends  can  give  her." 
He  withdrew  his  head,  and  hurried  away 
without  stopping  to  hear  Mrs.  Dillo way's 
assurances  of  kindness  to  his  wife  ;  for  he 
found  the  remembrance  of  his  home  began 
to  unman  him.  He  felt  a  sort  of  choking 
in  his  throat,  and  an  odd  sensation  about 
his  eyes,  that  warned  him  to  be  in  motion, 
that  he  might  keep  the  mastery  of  his  feel- 
ings ;  so  he  seized  George's  arms  and  hur- 
ried on  towards  the  quay,  where  his  boat 
was  waiting  for  him  to  embark. 


THE   GOLDEN   RULE.  15 

"  That  Captain  Darrick  is  a  strange  man 
Mr.  Dilloway,"  observed  George's  mother 
after  she  had  watched  the  two  young  men 
till  a  turn  in  the  street  caused  them  to  dis- 
appear :  "  Don't  you  think  it's  strange  he 
xvould'nt  let  you  go  on  hoard  with  the  poor 
boy.  And  only  think  of  his  leaving  his 
wife  so,  without  letting  her  bid  him  good 
bye ! " 

"  His  ways  are  a  little  different  from 
what  we've  been  accustomed  to,  my  dear ; 
nevertheless  he  is  a  fine  frank  hearted  fel- 
low. George  thinks  highly  of  him,  and  I've 
a  good  deal  of  confidence  in  George's  judg- 
ment. As  to  his  taking  French  leave  of  his 
wife,  it  may  appear  rather  strange ;  but  I 
believe  it  is  good  policy,  and  calculated  to 
save  her  pain  as  well  as  himself.  It  is 
quite  common  for  seafaring  men  to  leave 
their  families  thus  abruptly.  There  is  one 
thing,  however,  I  could  wish  to  see  changed 
about  Capt.  Darrick  :  I  fear  he  has  but  little 
religion,  and  that  he  allows  himself  in  pro- 
fanity, and  perhaps  in  other  sins." 

"  And  our  boy  is  to  be  his  companion  for 


16  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

three  years — Oh,  Mr.  Dilloway,  suppose 
George  was  to  learn  his  evil  ways,  would  it 
not  bring  down  our  grey  hairs  with  sorrow 
to  the  grave?" 

"  Let  us  hope  better  things,  my  dear.  He 
is  now  gone,  and  we  will  trust  him  to  God ; 
we  will  never  forget  our  son  at  the  throne 
of  grace,  and  our  heavenly  Father  will  not 
forget  him.  We  will  agree  together  to  re- 
member his  companion  in  our  prayers,  and 
may  we  not  hope  God  will  turn  him  from 
the  error  of  his  ways— perhaps  use  our  dear 
George  to  awaken  his  attention. 

It  was  a  great  comfort  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dilloway  to  lay  their  cares  upon  the  mercy 
seat :  yet  they  could  not  but  remember  that 
their  child  had  gone  into  the  way  of  temp- 
tation, and  that  they  had  allowed  him  to 
go.  Like  every  true  Christian  similarly  sit- 
uated, their  consciences  would  not  allow 
them  to.  rest  during  the  continuance  of  that 
lon£-  -long  voyage. 


THE    GOLDEN   RULE.  17 

CHAPTER  II. 

HOME    SICKNESS. 

GEORGE  DILLOWAY  hurried  on  with  his 
friend  Darrick  after  he  left  his  father's 
house  :  neither  spoke  a  word,  for  each  was 
sufficiently  occupied  with  his  own  thoughts. 
They  were  soon  seated  in  the  stern  sheets 
of  the  ship's  boat,  and  a  few  strokes  of  the 
oar  carried  them  along-side.  As  they  ap- 
proached the  vessel)  Darrick  laid  his  hand 
on  his  friend  with  a  sailor's"  grip,  and 
George  started  from  his  reverie.  "  Come 
Geordie,"  he  said,  "  get  your  manly  tacks 
aboard,  my  boy  :  don't  let  the  tars  see  you 
piping  your  eye  like  a  sick  girl." 

George  manned  himself  as  well  as  he 
could  and  followed  captain  Darrick,  who 
had  run  up  the  side  ladder  the  moment  the 
boat  touched.  "  Man  your  windlass,  Mr. 
Barnacle,"  exclaimed  the  captain,  as  his 
foot  touched  the  deck—1"  drop  your  main- 
top-sail boys, — sheet  home. — Lend  us  a 
2* 


18  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

hand  Mr.  Dilloway,  to  sheet  home  this  top- 
sail :  we  must  make  a  piece  of  a  sailor  of 
you  afore  we  bring  you  back." 

George  ran  to  assist  his  friend,  and  pull- 
ed upon  the  topsail  sheet  with  all  his  might ; 
for  though  he  was  going  out  as  supercargo, 
he  was  determined,  as  captain  Darrick  said, 
to  make  himself  a  piece  of  a  sailor. 

By  the  time  the  captain,  with  the  assis- 
tance of  the  cook  and  steward  and  one  or 
two  of  the  hands,  had  got  the  main-top-sail 
set,  the  anchor  was  at  the  bows ;  and  a 
stern  voice  was  heard  from  the  quarter 
deck  :  "  Forward  there — hoist  away  your 
jib." 

It  was  the  pilot,  who  had  charge  of  the 
vessel  until  she  should  be  clear  of  the  har- 
bor :  captain  Darrick  having  interested  his 
friend  in  ship's  duty,  now  went  below,  leav- 
ing George  eagerly  engaged  in  assisting  the 
seamen.  Sail  after  sail  was  set,  and  no  one 
was  more  busy  than  the  supercargo :  he  ran 
wherever  ne  saw  others  running,  pulled 
when  others  pulled ;  but  sometimes  he'd  let 
go  a  wrong  rope,  and  thus  bring  himself 


THE    GOLDEN   RULE.  19 

into  disgrace.  He  was  very  active,  and  of 
course  contented,  and  amused  the  sailors 
not  a  little  by  the  rapid  striding  of  his  long 
legs  and  the  flying  of  his  coat  tails. 

The  lofty  spars  were  soon  covered  with 
their  clouds  of  canvass,  and  the  seaman 
were  called  to  trim  the  yards.  George, 
with  a  parcel  more  of  land-lubbers,  followed 
two  or  three  old  tars  to  the  main-brace ;  but 
it  was  in  vain  the  sailors  tried  to  make  them 
lay  out  their  strength  together  :  they  were 
like  a  company  of  militia  at  a  regimental 
training,  where  oiie  gun  will  go  off  after 
another,  as  if  the  unruly  squad  had  entered 
into  a  combination  that  no  two  should  fire 
at  once.  First  the  seamen  would  pull — 
then  George  would  pull  and  the  green  hands 
in  his  rear,  would  each  in  his  turn  give  a 
pull.  "  Ho  yo — all  together  boys,"  exclaim- 
ed the  sailors  :  but  the  song  and  the  exhor- 
tation were  alike  useless.  It  was  evident 
the  landsmen  had  no  ear  for  the  music,  and 
the  tars  consoled  themselves  for  doing  all 
the  work,  by  laughing  at  the  scattering  legs 


20  ALNOMUC  :  OR 

and  uncouth  attempts  of  the  awkward 
squad  behind  them. 

George's  long  shanks  spread  across  the 
deck,  afforded  an  especial  deal  of  amuse- 
ment to  the  jolly  tars  ;  though  it  was  only 
by  sly  looks  at  one  another,  and  oblique 
glances  at  the  supercargo's  nether  man,  that 
they  ventured  to  show  their  merriment. 
Nevertheless,  they  liked  the  frank  bearing 
of  the  young  man,  and  were  pleased  with 
his  vigorous  movements,  and  the  readiness 
with  which  he  joined  in  ship's  duty. 

"  I  say  Bob,"  exclaimed  Bill  Driver,  as 
soon  as  George  was  out  of  hearing,  "  we've 
got  a  long  spliced  chap  for  a  quill-driver, 
this  time  ?  " 

"A  likely  lad,  Bill,"  replied  Bob  Ring- 
tail :  "  that  lad's  got  the  frame  work  for  a 
man  I  can  tell  you ;  and  a  pritty  man  he'll 
make,  arter  he  spreads  more  and  gits  his 
bones  hardened  a  bit." 

"  It  may  be  Bob,  if  he'd  only  doff  them 
'are  long  togs,  and  get  his  gearing  a  little 
more  shipshape,  it  may  be,  he'd  be  a  pritty 
lad." 


THE   GOLDEN    RULE.  21 

"  Never  fear  man,  he'll  doff  the  swallow- 
tail or  he's  been  on  blue  water  a  bit :  and 
he'll  make  a  sailor  too,  you  may  depend  ; 
it  won't  be  long  or  he'll  be  the  first  at  a 
weather  earring." 

"  That's  like  enough  Bob  ;  for  he's  only 
to  stand  on  the  rail  and  lift  up  his  hands  to 
the  top-sail  yard.  It  '11  be  handy  having 
sich  a  long-spliced  chap  when  any  thing 
goes  foul  aloft. 

George  was  not  taller  than  a  number  of 
others  on  board  the  Alnomuc  ;  but  his  slen- 
der form  and  citizen's  dress,  made  him  ap- 
pear very  tall  to  some  of  the  seamen.  He 
was  about  six  feet  in  height,  and  though  his 
frame  was  not  as  yet  developed,  his  heavy 
limbs  gave  indication  of  his  becoming  a 
stout  man.  Though  his  station  on  board 
did  not  require  him  to  be  employed  in  ship's 
duty,  both  his  mind  and  his  person  were 
too  active  to  allow  him  to  remain  idle.  He 
therefore  joined  with  his  whole  heart  in  the 
same  labors  as  the  seamen,  and  determined 
before  he  returned  home,  to  make  himself  a 
complete  sailor. 


22  ALNOMUC  :  OR 

While  he  had  been  busily  engaged  with 
the  others  in  trimming  the  ship's  sails,  he 
was  too  much  occupied  to  feel  home  sick. 
But  at  last  every  rope  was  belayed  in  its 
right  place,  the  rigging  coiled  up,  arid  all 
was  snug :  the  ship  had  now  cleared  the 
harbor,  and  the  crew  were  intent  in  watch- 
ing the  boat  which  approached  to  take  the 
pilot  from  the  vessel.  The  beautiful  pilot 
boat  skimmed  along  the  water  with  a  grace- 
ful movement ;  and  though,  like  the  seamen, 
he  could  not  judge  of  her  particular  quali- 
ties, George  still  admired  the  symmetry  of 
her  model,  and  the  swift  easy  motion  with 
which  she  cut  her  way  through  the  waves. 
But  there  was  another  interest  belonging  to 
the  boat  besides  that  attached  to  her  beauty 
and  grace.  She  would  be  the  last  means  of 
communication  with  the  shore,  that  shore 
on  which  were  centred  all  George's  affec- 
tions ;  there  was  the  home  of  his  youth,  and 
there,  the  dear  friends  of  his  early  days 
were  even  then,  mourning  his  absence. 

As  the  pilot  shook  hands  with  him  and 
stepped  over  the  gangway,  George  had  half 


THE   GOLDEN   RULE.  166 

a  mind  to  follow,  for  he  knew  he  would  not 
have  another  chance  to  change  his  mind. 
As  the.  little  schooner  bore  up  for  the  shore, 
George  went  after  her  with  his  eyes  until  a 
point  of  land  hid  her  from  his  view.  He 
now  walked  aft  to  the  quarter  deck  and 
seated  himself  upon  an  hencoop,  while  his 
heart  wandered  after  the  pilot  boat  towards 
the  home  of  his  childhood. 

The  hoary  head  of  his  aged  father  was 
still  before  his  mind,  arid  he  well  remem- 
bered his  last  words  :  the  precept  this  kind 
parent  had  taught  him,  he  resolved  should 
be  the  rule  of  his  conduct  on  the  present 
voyage.  He  now  silently  poured  out  his 
heart  to  his  father's  God  to  enable  him  ;  for 
though  he  was  still  young,  his  experience 
had  shown  him  that  of  his  own  unassisted 
strength,  he  could  do  nothing. 

He  remembered  that  just  as  he  left  the 
house,  his  mother  had  slipped  something 
into  his  pocket.  He  felt  for  it  and  drew  it 
forth :  it  was  a  small  Bible.  He  opened 
the  sacred  volume — o'n  a  blank  leaf  was 
written,  "  my  son,  give  me  thine  heart :  " 


24  ALNOMTJC  :    OR 

it  was  his  mother's  hand,  and  the  tears  dim- 
med his  sight  as  he  looked  at  it.  He  passed 
his  handkerchief  across  his  eye  and  again 
he  read :  "  my  son,  if  sinners  entice  thee 
consent  thou  not."  George  thought  that  he 
should  have  abundant  occasion  to  remember 
these  precepts  on  the  voyage  upon  which  he 
had  embarked :  perhaps  it  was  happy  for 
him  that  they  were  now  brought  to  his 
mind,  enforced  by  the  parental  sanction, 
while  his  heart  was  softened  by  the  remem- 
brance of  his  home.  While  the  Christian 
father  and  mother  were  praying  for  their 
absent  son,  that  son  was  calling  to  mind 
their  instructions,  and  making  resolutions 
to  guide  himself  by  them.  The  same  God 
was  present  with  them  upon  the  land,  and 
at  the  same  moment,  watching  their  boy  as 
he  floated  over  the  blue  wave :  and  he  was 
as  safe  under  the  Almighty's  care  while 
riding  the  heaving  billows,  as  they  were  at 
rest  on  the  firm  rooted  earth. 

George  was  almost  unconscious  of  what 
was  passing  around  him,  for  his  heart  was 
wandering  about  the  precincts  of  his  father's 


THE    GOLDEN    RULE.  25 

house.  He  still  held  his  Bible  in  his  hand 
though  he  did  not  attempt  to  read :  the  book 
was  precious  to  him  for  it  contained  the  law 
of  his  God ;  it  was  precious  too,  as  the  part- 
ing gift  of  his  dear  mother.  As  he  sat  thus 
ruminating  sadly,  he  observed  a  tear  fall 
upon  the  page  which  was  open  before  him  : 
he  carefully  wiped  it  off  and  deposited  the 
book  in  his  pocket,  but  still  continued  the 
train  of  thought  to  which  it  had  given  rise. 
He  remembered  that  his  father  had  com- 
mended that  book  to  him,  as  containing  the 
chart  by  which  he  was  to  direct  his  course 
tnrough  the  troubled  ocean  of  time,  if  he 
would  find  a  safe  harbor  in  eternity.  He 
determined  to  take  advantage  of  the  leisure 
afforded  by  the  present  voyage,  to  secure 
a  better  knowledge  of  this  chart. 

George  Dilloway  was  roused  from  his 
reveire  by  a  blow  which  seemed  to  threaten 
the  dislocation  of  all  his  joints.  It  pro- 
ceeded from  the  heavy  hand  of  captain  Dar- 
rick  which  had  fallen  between  his  shoul- 
ders :  "  Wake  up,  wake  up  man,"  exclaim- 
ed the  captain,  "  don't  sit  moping  there. 
3 


26  ALNOMUC  '.  OR 

Come  George  tell  us  what  you  were  dream- 
ing of." 

"  I  was  thinking  of  the  folks  at  home, 
Dick." 

"  Aye — and  been  piping  your  eye  like  a 
home  sick  school-gall.  Now  stir  about  a 
little  and  be  more  of  a  man." 

"  Ah,  Darrick,  it's  hard  to  leave  the  old 
folks  for  so  long  a  time,  and  how  can  I  tell 
that  I  shall  ever  see  them  again?" 

"  It's  true  enough  George,  but  it's  no  use 
blubbering  about  it.  After  all  they'll  be 
just  as  safe  as  if  you  were  with  them : 
never  fear  but  you'll  find  every  thing  right 
when  you  return,  and  all  the  merrier  for  a 
short  separation.  You  see,  it's  no  use  mak- 
ing trouble  afore  it  comes." 

"It's  easy  enough  to  talk,  Darrick,  but 
you've  parted  with  no  kind  parents  or  you 
wouldn't  think  it  so  easy." 

Darrick  seated  himself  by  George's  side 
and  fixed  his  dark  eye  on  the  countenance 
of  his  friend.  "  'Tis  true  George  as  you 
say,  my  old  folks  have  been  gone  many  a 
year,  and  I  can  scarce  remember  them  at 


THE   GOLDEN   RULE.  27 

all,  save  that  I've  an  indistinct  recollection 
of  my  mother's  kind  look.  But  do  you 
think  it's  nothing  to  leave  a  young  wife 
when  she's  been  a  bride  but  a  few  short 
months — to  leave  her  too  with  the  time  so 
near  when  she'll  want  all  the  support  that 
I  could  give  her."  Captain  Darrick  felt 
his  sight  grow  dim  as  a  tear  rose  in  his  eye. 

"  Pshaw,  this  is  nonsense  :  "  he  muttered 
to  himself  as  he  rose  and  walked  away. 
For  a  few  moments  he  passed  with  hasty 
strikes  up  and  down  the  deck,  then  in  a  set 
voice  gave  some  orders  to  the  seamen,  and 
turned  to  take  his  last  took  tif  the  land 
which  was  fast  passing  away  in  the  dis- 
tance. 

Though  they  were'  thus  overcome  at  the 
remembrance  of  the  friends  they  had  left, 
let  it  not  be  supposed  that  these  young  men 
were  effeminate  or  wanting  in  manly  firm- 
ness. Captain  Darrick's  weather-beaten 
features  bore  the  impress  of  many  a  storm ; 
and  his  was  an  heart  to  meet  danger  with 
calmness  and  to  overcome  it  by  resolutions. 


28  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

George  Dilloway  was  an  high  spirited  youth 
but  not  as  yet  inured  to  toil  and  danger. 

Neither  is  it  ever  a  mark  of  weakness,  to 
be  alive  to  the  tender  sympathies  of  our 
nature.  It  will  always  be  found  that  that 
heart  beats  with  the  manliest  motion,  which 
is  the  most  awake  to  the  kindly  influences 
of  those  ties  which  bind  a  man  to  his  race : 
while  the  mind  governed  by  selfishness,  is 
the  one  which  quails  in  danger  and  shrinks 
from  suffering  with  a  craven  fear.  Thus  it 
is  that  religion,  while  it  softens  the  heart 
and  quickens  its  affections,  at  the  same 
time  nerves  it  to  action,  and  prepares  it 
calmly  to  meet  every  evil  and  to  brave  death 
itself  without  shrinking. 


THE    GOLDEN    RULE.     ,  29 

CHAPTER  HI.       , 

# 

SEA   SICKNESS. 

"  COME  Mr.  Dilloway,"  said  captain  Dar- 
rick,  "  come  have  your  last  look  at  your 
native  land.  We  must  take  a  round  turn 
about  old  Neptune's  dominions,  afore  you'll 
have  a  chance  to  see  it  again."  Captain 
Darrick  was  leaning  over  the  quarter  deck 
observing  the  change  in  the  receding  coast 
as  the  ship  changed  her  bearings.  George 
was  still  sitting  on  the  hencoop,  but  as  his 
friend  spoke  he  arose  and  went  towards 
him,  staggering  however,  and  reeling  from 
the  motion  of  the  vessel,  which  as  yet  he 
did  not  understand.  "  Why  Geordie,"  said 
the  captain  as  the  young  man  came  up, 
"  you  marke  rather  a  circumbendibus  in 
your  course  :  if  I  were  to  steer  the  ship  that 
way,  it  would  take  us  a  while  to  get  back 
where  we  are  now." 

"  Why  the  sea's  so  rough,  that  I  can't 
stand  upon  my  legs,  Dick  !  " 
3* 


30  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

"  Well,  well,  if  you  call  this  a  rough  sea  ! 
why — it's  as  smooth  as  a  mill  pond — all 
but.  You'll  get  your  sea  legs  my  boy  in  a 
day  or  two,  «.nd  then  you  won't  mind  a 
little  bobbing  of  the  water." 

There  was  a  marked  difference  in  the 
appearance  of  the  two  young  men,  as  they 
leaned  over  the  ship's  rail  watching  the  dis- 
tant looming  of  that  land  where  were  all 
that  each  held  dear. 

The  sailor's  was  a  short  figure ;  but  what 
was  wanting  in  height  was  compensated  by 
the  spread  of  the  shoulders,  like  a  Dutch 
galliot  whose  breadth  of  beam  is  in  an  in- 
verse proportion  to  her  length  of  keel.  By 
his  side,  his  friend  George  was  full  six  feet 
in  height,  his  slender  figure  forming  a  mark- 
ed contrast  to  the  broad  weather-seasoned 
frame  of  his  companion. 

Captain  Darrick's  dark  features,  made 
still  darker  by  exposure  to  a  tropical  sun, 
his  raven  locks  and  piercing  black  eye, 
marked  the  country  of  his  mother ;  for  Dar- 
rick's father  like  himself  a  wanderer,  had 
brought  his  wife  from  the  sunny  shores  of 


THE  GOLDEN  RULE.          31 

Italy.  In  his  friend  George  the  Saxon  blood 
predominated  as  was  manifested  by  his  blue 
eye  and  sandy  hair.  His  complexion  too, 
though  somewhat  sunburnt,  appeared  light 
and  delicate  by  the  side  of  the  swarthy  cap- 
tain. .' 

Nor  was  there  less  difference  in  the  bear- 
ing of  the  two :  George's  gentle  but  frank 
and  easy  manners,  contrasted  strongly  with 
the  abrupt  and  boisterous  ways  of  the  hardy 
seaman. 

The  land  had  not  yet  disappeared,  when 
the  grinning  face  of  the  black  steward  dis- 
played its  two  rows  of  polished  ivory  above 
the  companion.  "  Massa  captin,  dinner 
saar,"  he  said,  and  dove  again  below  the 
deck.  George  Dilloway  and  the  captain 
followed :  and  when  they  had  dined,  the 
latter  and  his  officers  went  on  deck  again, 
leaving  George  alone. 

Several  heavy  thumps  on  the  ship's  side 
while  they  were  eating,  gave  indication  that 
the  sea  was  rising :  and  to  say  the  truth, 
though  he  was  far  from  confessing  it,  until 


32  ALNOMUC  :     OR 

George  learned  the  cause  of  these  noises, 
they  excited  not  a  little  consternation  in  his 
mind.  He  felt  no  inclination  to  follow  his 
friend  to  the  deck ;  for  the  close  air  of  the 
cabin,  together  with  the  increased  motion 
of  the  vessel,  had  wrought  such  perturba- 
tion in  the  inner  man,  that  he  was  not  dis- 
posed to  move  at  all. 

At  first  he  felt  listless  and  inert,  and  his 
mind  was  confused  :  he  could  only  hold  on 
by  such  things  as  were  in  his  way,  to  pre- 
vent the  sea  from  pitching  him  out  of  his 
seat.  Presently  he  perceived  indications  of 
sickness  and  his  head  began  to  swim  :  he 
thought  he  would  get  to  his  berth  while  yet 
he  was  able. 

He  rose,  but  at  that  moment  the  vessel 
made  a  sudden  lurch  to  leeward  and  discon- 
certed all  his  calculations.  He  lost  all  com- 
mand of  his  own  motions — seizing  on  the 
table  to  steady  himself,  he  took  that  with 
him ;  for  as  yet  it  had  not  been  properly 
secured.  Chairs  followed  ;  chests  and  trunks 
had  been  piled  carelessly  together  in  the  hur- 
ry of  departure,  but  were  now  pitched  over, 


THE    GOLDEN   RULE.  33 

and  with  George's  legs  and  arms,  formed 
one  common  heap  on  the  lee  side  of  the 
cabin.  Luckily  the  poor  wight,  contrived  to 
dive  into  his  own  state  room,  the  sides  of 
which  protected  him  in  a  measure  from 
being  injured  in  the  melee. 

When  the  steward  found  that  the  move- 
ables  in  the  cabin  were  under  way,  he 
hastened  to  the  scene  of  disorder ;  for  he 
knew  he  would  be  blamed  for  not  having 
secured  them.  "  Oh  dear — oh  dear — what 
Massa  captin — say  1  he  exclaimed,  but 
hearing  George's  groans  from  amid  the  con- 
fusion of  chairs  and  boxes,  he  hastened  to 
his  relief.  "  Misser  Dilloway  hurt  heeself  ?  " 
he  asked,  lifting  the  youth  from  his  uncom- 
fortable position. 

"  Oh  no,  steward,"  replied  George,  "  but 
I'm  dreadful  sick  !  "  And  indeed  he  was 
too  feeble  to  help  himself :  so  the  steward 
undressed  him  and  lifted  him  into  his  berth, 
telling  him  to  lay  upon  his  back  and  he'd 
feel  more  comfortable.  He  did  find  himself 
much  easier  after  he  had  lain  down,  and 
very  grateful  was  he  to  the  steward  for  his 


34  ALNOMUC:  OR 

assistance.  "  That  poor  negro,"  he  said  to 
himself,  "  understands  the  golden  rule  of 
doing  as  he'd  be  done  by ;  he  has  left  all 
his  things  tumbling  about  the  cabin  to  help 
me,  and  if  I  ever  have  a  chance  I'll  show 
him  kindness  in  return."  This  led  him  to 
think  that  perhaps  that  chance  would  never 
occur  :  he  felt  so  sick — so  very  sick,  that  he 
believed  it  impossible  he  could  live  long. 
Then  he  turned  his  thoughts  to  another 
friend,  through  whose  kindness  it  was  that 
he  could  look  forward  to  death  without 
fear — even  the  blessed  Jesus,  who  had  pur- 
chased salvation  for  him  at  so  great  a  sacri- 
fice. 

George  Dilloway  felt  so  miserable,  that  he 
cared  not  to  live  :  he  had  but  one  wish,  and 
that  was  to  see  his  parents  before  he  died 
and  receive  their  blessing.  "Oh,"  he  said, 
"  it  was  unkind  in  me,  to  leave  them  in 
their  old  age :  it  was  not  acting  according 
to  that  rule  which  my  father  taught  me." 

The  steward  was  now  busy  restoring 
order  to  the  cabin  :  every  moveable  article 


THE   GOLDEN   RULE.  35 

had  fetched  away,  and  lay  in  a  heap  to 
leeward.  The  negro  comforted  himself  with 
the  reflection  that  they  could  go  no  further, 
but  what  to  take  hold  of  first  he  could  not 
tell.  As  he  was  considering,  he  caught 
sight  of  Bob  Ringtail  passing  the  compan- 
ion-way, and  called  to  him  :  "I  say  dere, 
shipmate,  gib  us  a  leetle  help  to  s'kure  dese 
'ere  tings  ?  " 

"To  be  sure  I  will,  my  beauty,"  replied 
Bob,  and  he  dove  into  the  cabin ;  and  by 
his  assistance  every  thing  was  soon  securely 
lashed.  George  felt  glad  that  it  was  done 
before  the  captain  came  down,  as  it  would 
have  brought  reproof  upon  the  steward  had 
his  negligence  been  discovered. 

The  steward  continued  to  be  very  atten- 
tive and  kind  to  George,  as  were  also  the 
captain  and  officers  of  the  ship  ;  but  it  was 
little  that  could  be  done  for  the  alleviation 
of  sea  sickness.  "  After  all,  my  dear  boy," 
said  captain  Darrick  when  he  had  been  ad- 
ministering something  for  his  relief,  "  time 
and  patience  must  effect  the  cure." 

George  said  he  was  so  sick,  he  thought  he 


36  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

could  not  get  well. — "  Never  fear,  my 
hearty,  you're  not  going  to  settle  accounts 
with  Davy  yet :  you're  tougher  than  you 
think  for."  George  thought  they  were  very 
kind  to  take  so  much  care  of  him ;  but 
he  was  so  utterly  wretched,  he  did  not  be- 
lieve it  was  possible  he  could  ever  be  well 
again. 

Two  days  he  laid  in  his  berth  so  miser- 
able, that  almost  his  only  wish  was  that  he 
might  die.  On  the  third  day  captain  Dar- 
rick  changed  his  course  towards  his  young 
friend :  and  George  thought  his  treatment 
was  not  such  as  he  would  have  been  pleased 
to  receive  in  like  circumstances.  Never- 
theless the  good  captain  meant  well,  and 
acted  wisely :  he  was  still  showing  kind- 
ness in  his  own  rough  way. 

"  Well  Geordie,  how  are  you  to  day  ?  " 
asked  the  captain,  in  his  usual  noisy  and 
blunt  manner. 

"  Just  alive,  Darrick,  and  that's  all." 

"  That's  all  nonsense,  George,  come  cheer 
up.  It's  a  fine  pleasant  day,  and  a  breath 
of  fresh  air  would  make  you  quite  another 


THE    GOLDEN    RULE. 

man.  So  stir  yourself  a  bit  and  show  your 
nose  on  deck." 

"  Oh,  I'm  so  weak  I  can't  stir.  It's  of  no 
use  to  talk  about  it,  Dick  1 " 

"Well,  if  you  can't  go,  I  must  carry 
you ;  "  so  saying  the  captain  lifted  him  from 
the  berth,  while  George  who  had  no  strength 
to  resist,  could  only  beg  to  be  left  alone. 
Dick  Darrick  being  among  the  shortest  of 
men,  and  his  burden  being  rather  long  with- 
al, he  found  it  rather  difficult  to  manage, 
especially  as  George's  legs  and  arms  hung 
like  the  limbs  of  a  rag  doll :  so  the  captain 
called  the  steward  to  his  assistance :  "  Come 
here  Marino,  and  pick  up  some  of  these 
scattering  legs.  Why  you  grin,  you  blue 
rascal,  as  if  you  thought  it  was  a  good  joke 
to  be  sea  sick  !  " 

"  Tink  it  do  Massa  George  good  when  he 
hab  sumb  fresh  air,"  the  negro  replied. 

George  thought  they  were  very  cruel 
while  they  were  lugging  him  upon  deck, 
and  that  they  acted  not  at  all  according  to 
the  golden  rule.  But  when  his  friend  had 
wrapped  him  in  his  watch  coat  and  seated 
4 


38  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

him  upon  the  hencoop,  he  began  to  feel  the 
invigorating  influence  of  the  sea  air.  Then, 
he  was  ready  to  acknowledge  that  the  treat- 
ment he  had  received,  though  rather  un- 
ceremonious, was  founded  in  kindness  :  he 
was  refreshed  and  encouraged,  and  for  the 
first  time  for  several  days,  felt  that  he  had 
still  something  to  do  upon  the  earth. 

Revived  by  the  fresh  air,  George  was  un- 
willing to  return  to  the  closeness  of  the 
cabin.  The  steward  therefore  brought  him 
up  his  clothes  and  assisted  to  put  them  on. 
Having  then  taken  something  to  eat  for  the 
first  time  for  three  days,  he  felt  much  re- 
cruited, and  thought  himself  strong  enough 
to  walk  the  deck.  But  his  legs  were  weak 
and  tottered  under  him,  for  as  yet  he  was 
not  accustomed  to  the  motion  of  the  sea : 
the  first  lurch  of  the  ship  sent  him  to  lee- 
ward, and  he  might  have  been  severely 
hurt,  had  not  his  friend  Darrick  caught 
him  and  warned  him  to  be  more  careful. 

The  warning  however  was  not  needed, 
for  George  was  in  no  hurry  to  trust  himself 
to  his  legs  again :  he  seated  himself,  and 
found  abundance  to  occupy  his  attention  in 


THE    GOLDEN   RULE.  39 

the  novelty  of  his  situation.  It  was  strange 
to  look  about  and  see  nothing  but  a  wide 
expanse  of  water  on  every  side.  To  one 
accustomed  to  look  only  on  the  unchanging 
features  of  land  scenery,  there  was  some- 
thing new  in  the  restless  motion  of  th 
waves.  Our  voyager  watched  swell  after 
swell  as  it  arose,  and  then  followed  it  with 
his  eyes  till  it  was  lost  in  the  distant  hori- 
zon. "  How  far  will  it  go  before  it  stops," 
thought  George,  as  he  watched  the  rise  and 
fall  of  a  heavy  swell  which  was  passing  off 
to  the  eastward. 

"  How  far,"  replied  Dick  Darrick,  for 
George  had  unconsciously  thought  aloud, 
"  that  swell  is  bound  to  the  coast  of  Africa, 
and  it  will  soon  be  there  unless  it  should 
bounce  against  some  island  on  the  way." 

"  One  would  think  heavy  billows  like 
these,  must  overwhelm  the  land  after  going 
so  far,  and  with  so  much  force  one  after 
another  !  " 

"  We  might  think  so  perhaps  if  we  did 
not  know  to  the  contrary.  Why  they  don't 
I'm  sure  we  can't  tell." 

"  I  can  tell  you  Dick :  'tis  because  He  who 


40  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

made  these  waters,  holds  them  in  the  hollow 
of  his  hand." 

"  Well  they'll  burst  with  fury  enough 
when  they  reach  the  shore,  for  all  that." 

"  Yes,  but  the  Almighty  has  made  laws  by 
'  which  the  proud  waters  must  be  governed  : 
he  has  marked  a  line  which  they  cannot 
pass.  He  says  to  the  sea,  thus  far  shalt 
thou  go  and  no  farther,  and  here  shall  thy 
proud  waves  be  stayed.  And  who  is  there 
Darrick,  but  the  same  God,  to  withhold  this 
sea  from  swallowing  us  up  :  and  yet  I  find 
you  allow  His  name  to  be  blasphemed  on 
board  this  ship ! " 

"  Why  Geordie,  we  are  just  as  safe  here 
as  you'd  be  in  your  father's  house." 

"  To  be  sure  we  are  perfectly  safe  every 
where,  if  God  wills  us  to  be  so.  You  feel 
confidence  no  doubt  in  ycnr  own  skill  and 
knowledge  of  the  sea ;  but  that  can  only 
protect  you  by  his  sufferance.  I  tell  you, 
Darrick — I  shouldn't  feel  safe  in  my  father's 
house,  while  profaning  God's  holy  name. 
To  man  too,  yes,  to  proud  man,  does  God 
say :  '  Thus  far  shalt  thou  go,  and  'tis  at 
his  peril  that  he  oversteps  the  bound.'  " 


THE   GOLDEN   EULE.  41 


CHAPTER  IV. 

OLD    SAILOR. 

THERE  was  one  character  on  board  the 
Alnomuc  that  was  a  prime  favorite  with  all 
hands.  He  was  allowed  to  associate  alike 
with  the  captain  and  officers  on  the  quarter 
deck,  and  with  Jack  Tar  upon  the  forecas- 
tle :  he  was  sure  to  be  well  received  at 
whichever  end  of  the  ship  he  made  a  visit. 
His  favorite  haunt  however,  was  about  the 
cook's  galley,  from  which  the  Doctor  would 
sometimes  disburse  the  odd  end  of  a  seapie 
or  some  scraps  of  duff,  very  pleasant  to  the 
gustatory  organs  of  Old  Sailor. 

I  have  said  his  visits  were  always  well 
received  fore  and  aft,  and  yet  he  was  treat- 
ed to  many  a  kick  by  his  friends,  when  in 
their  hurry  he  happened  to  be  in  the  way  : 
this  not  unfrequently  happened,  as  nothing 
could  be  done  on  board  the  ship  without 
his,  I  was  going  to  say,  having  a  hand  in 
it :  at  any  rate  he  always  wanted  to  do  his 
4* 


42  ALNOMUC  :    OK 

part.  When  topsails  were  to  be  reefed  or 
any  other  thing  to  be  done  to  the  sails, 
though  he  did  not  go  aloft,  he  was  as  busy 
as  any  one  about  the  deck. 

These  sort  of  compliments  were  well  re- 
ceived on  the  part  of  Old  Sailor :  for  he  was 
not  one  of  those  foolish  fellows  who  quar- 
rel with  an  acquaintance  for  every  little 
affront.  So  he  pocketed  the  kicks  and  said 
nothing  about  them ;  and  the  next  time  he 
met  the  person  who  bestowed  them,  he  was 
as  cordial  as  ever. 

This  was  acting  in  something  very  like 
a  Christian  spirit :  alas  that  it  can  only  be 
told  of  a  dumb  brute.  It  is  to  be  feared 
Christians  are  seldom  so  far  Christian,  as  to 
pocket  an  affront  so  as  never  to  let  it  be 
seen  that  they  remember  it.  But  Sailor 
wagged  his  tail  none  the  less  because  he 
had  been  kicked. 

Old  Sailor  was  the  name  ov'  a  large  New- 
foundland dog  belonging  to  captain  Darrick, 
which  had  accompanied  him  on  several  voy- 
ages. He  was  a  great  pet  of  his  master's 
and  like  all  pets  somewhat  troublesome, 


THE    GOLDEN   RULE.  43 

being  a  busy  body  as  aforesaid.  With 
George  he  soon  became  a  prime  favorite, 
and  in  return  the  dog  became  very  fond  of 
the  young  man,  for  George  never  treated 
him  unkindly  :  he  was  not  ashamed  to  ex- 
ercise towards  a  brute,  the  golden  rule  he 
had  resolved  should  govern  his  conduct  to- 
wards his  fellow  men.  Indeed  because  he 
was  a  brute,  was  the  more  reason  he  should 
have  patience  with  him,  since  the  poor 
beast  could  not  be  supposed  to  understand 
all  that  was  required.  Moreover  George 
thought  there  was  no  harm,  in  gaining  the 
friendship  even  of  a  dog  :  if  he  was  to  fall 
overboard  he  knew  that  Old  Sailor  would 
be  the  first  to  go  over  after  him :  indeed 
captain  Darrick  assured  him,  that  the  faith- 
ful animal  had  already  saved  the  lives  of 
two  men. 

Sailor  had  got  to  be  quite  an  old  sea  dog, 
and  withal  was  quite  expert  in  many  parts 
of  ship's  duty — the  seamen  declared  that  he 
was  of  more  use  to  them  than  some  of  the 
green  horns  on  board  ;  for  when  they  were 
pulling  a  rope  together,  the  dog  would  pull 


44  ALNOMUC  :   OR 

with  the  rest;  which  the  landsmen  could 
not  be  made  to  do. 

Old  Sailor  had  no  idea  of  enjoying  a  sine- 
cure on  board  the  ship  :  whenever  a  brace 
was  to  be  hauled,  or  any  rope  he  could 
come  at,  he  was  sure  to  have  hold  of  the 
fag  end  :  and  he  laid  out  his  strength  most 
vigorously,  and  kept  time  with  the  song. 
And  if  the  seamen  kept  the  rope  from  him 
he  let  them  know  that  he  was  not  to  be  so 
baulked :  for  then  he  would  take  hold  of 
one  of  the  sailors  by  the  seat  of  his  trowsers, 
and  thus  took  care  to  add  his  whole  weight 
to  whatever  they  were  hauling  upon. 

However  it  isn't  to  be  denied,  that  Old 
Sailor  made  himself  more  busy  than  useful. 
He  was  often  much  in  the  way  when  any 
thing  was  to  be  done  in  a  hurry,  scamper- 
ing among  the  men's  legs  as  they  ran  about 
the  deck  in  the  performance  of  ship's  duty : 
not  unfrequently  too,  was  he  very  provok- 
ing by  the  pertinacity  with  which  he  would 
keep  his  hold  of  a  rope  and  prevent  its 
being  belayed.  Moreover  the  mischievous 
propensities  of  his  race,  were  often  exhibit- 


THE    GOLDEN    RULE.  45 

ed  in  the  destruction  of  any  article  that 
might  happen  to  be  in  his  way — by  chew- 
ing up  a  hat  or  a  shoe  for  instance,  and  by 
other  doggish  tricks  not  to  be  tolerated  in  a 
well  regulated  ship. 

The  tars  bore  with  much  patience,  the 
^nany  frailties  of  their  friend  in  considera- 
tion of  his  good  companionable  qualities  ; 
though  each  was  disposed  to  repay  his  pro- 
vocations with  a  kick,  when  he  was  the 
sufferer  :  and  indeed  it  was  no  trifling  mat- 
ter to  have  their  clothing  destroyed,  bound 
as  they  were  upon  a  three  years  voyage. 

The  captain  too,  bore  with  exemplary  good 
nature  many  delinquencies  on  the  part  of 
his  faithful  dog,  forgiving  his  transgressions 
in  consideration  of  his  many  good  qualities. 
Sundry  times  had  the  rascal  stolen  a  slipper 
from  his  master's  foot,  and  made  off  with 
his  prize  :  nor  could  it  be  recovered,  till  by 
dint  of  mastication,  he  had  left  neither  form 
nor  comeliness  to  it. 

Though  captain  Darrick  would  scold  at 
the  time,  he  still  neglected  to  have  the  de- 
linquent tied  up,  although  he  had  often 
threatened  it.  At  last  the  transgressions  of 


46  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

Old  Sailor  were  fulfilled,  and  he  was  com- 
mitted to  close  confinement. 

One  forenoon,  captain  Darrick  called  his 
officers  to  assist  him  in  getting  an  observa- 
tion. He  brought  up  his  nautical  almanac 
and  laid  it  upon  the  \veather  hencoop,  and 
with  his  sextant  in  his  hand,  walked  to 
leeward  to  obtain  his  distance.  Scarce  had 
he  put  the  instrument  to  his  eye  when  the 
alarm  was  given,  that  the  dog  was  engaged 
in  mischief. 

When  the  captain  came  on  deck,  Old 
Sailor  was  gnawing  a  bone  by  the  cook's 
galley.  He  saw  the  book  deposited  and  his 
master  walk  away :  it  was  a  rare  chance 
for  mischief — sweeter  to  him,  than  the  bone 
he  was  gnawing.  His  penchant  was  not 
to  be  restrained — slowly  he  walked  off  and 
demurely,  till  he  came  upon  the  quarter 
deck  :  then  casting  his  eye  over  his  back  to 
see  that  the  coast  was  clear  for  a  run,  he 
lifted  the  book  carefully  from  the  hencoop 
and  began  to  walk  deliberately  forward. 

"  The  dog  has  your  almanac  sir  !  "  ex- 
claimed the  man  at  the  helm. 

The  captain  turned — the  mate  was  for- 


THE    GOLDEN    RULE.  47 

ward  getting  an  altitude  of  the  moon : 
"  Head  that  dog  in,  Mr.  Barnacle,"  ex- 
claimed the  captain,  and  himself  gave  chase 
to  the  thief  from  the  rear,  while  the  mate 
sprang  round  the  stern  of  the  boat  to  make 
sure  of  him  that  way. 

When  Sailor  perceived  that  his  larceny 
was  discovered  he  quickened  his  pace  a  lit- 
tle, at  the  same  time  keeping  one  eye  turned 
back  upon  his  master.  Presently  he  found 
his  retreat  cut  off  and  that  he  had  enemies 
on  both  sides  to  contend  with ;  but  he  was 
not  disconcerted..  One  spring  carried  him  to 
the  top  of  the  pile  of  spare  spars,  and  diving 
behind  them,  he  disappeared  beneath  the 
boat.  Captain  Darrick  dashed  after  him  as 
far  as  he  could  :  but  he  gained  nothing  save 
a  few  hairs  from  the  end  of  poor  Sailor's 
tail,  which  thing  he  had  seized  upon  as  the 
dog  passed  under  the  keel  of  the  long  boat. 
The  captain  now  could  only  scold  :  and  that 
Sailor  cared  little  for,  being  beyond  his 
reach. 

And  now  the  fellow  was  not  comeatable 
except  by  removing  the  spars  :  and  before 


48  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

that  could  be  done,  he  would  have  abund- 
ant time  to  destroy  the  book.  He  was  hid 
from  sight  except  his  nose  and  one  eye  above 
it,  leering  at  his  master  :  it  was  provoking 
enough  to  see  the  rascal  masticating  the 
moon's  distances,  and  the  altitude  of  the 
heavenly  bodies,  on  the  knowledge  of  which 
the  art  of  navigation  is  founded  ;  and  with- 
out which,  it  would  be  almost  impossible  to 
direct  the  ship  upon  her  voyage.  However 
Sailor  continued  the  work  of  destruction 
without  any  regard  to  consequences,  and 
he  left  not  the  book  till  it  was  ground  as 
fine  as  if  it  had  passed  through  a  paper 
mill. 

Fortunately  captain  Darrick  had  taken 
the  precaution  to  bring  several  copies  of  the 
almanac  :  but  he  felt  that  it  would  not  do  to 
expose  himself  to  such  accidents,  which 
might  prove  exceedingly  detrimental  to  his 
voyage. 

After  dinner,  the  captain  came  on  deck 
and  as  usual,  Sailor  went  aft  to  secure  a 
little  notice;  for  captain  Darrick  usually 


THE    GOLDEN    RULE.  49 

brought  up  some  nuts  or  other  little  articles 
in  his  pocket,  which  he  amused  himself  by 
throwing  for  the  dog  to  catch.  Sailor  evi- 
dently had  forgotten  the  mischief  in  which 
he  had  been  engaged,  or  he  trusted  that  his 
master  had  forgotten  it.  But  scarce  had  he 
begun  to  fawn  and  to  wag  his  tail  when  he 
was  reminded  that  his  fault  was  still  re- 
membered, and  that  the  time  of  retribution 
had  come.  His  master's  hand  fell  heavily 
upon  his  neck  :  his  conscience  reminded 
him  of  his  iniquity,  and  he  crouched  upon 
the  deck,  doubtless  hoping  by  submission  to 
disarm  his  master's  wrath.  The  tail  was 
now  deposited  between  his  legs,  while  slow- 
ly and  sneakishly,  he  crawled  by  the  side 
of  captain  Darrick,  and  was  chained  to  the 
spot  where  he  had  done  the  mischief. 

"  There,"  said  Darrick,  "  you  shall  stay 
by  the  scene  of  your  iniquity,  and  you'll 
remember  what  you're  punished  for."  The 
dog  evidently  understood  the  meaning  of  the 
operation,  and  submitted  meekly  to  his  pun- 
ishment. 

"  You  seem  to  calculate  a  beneficial  re- 
5 


60  ALNOMUC  :    OE 

suit  from  the  exercise  of  the  poor  dog's  con- 
science," said  George  Dilloway,  who  had 
witnessed  the  operation. 

"  To  be  sure  I  do :  I  don't  know  any  thing 
more  likely  to  produce  a  reform  than  to  con- 
nect the  punishment  with  the  fault." 

"  And  in  men  as  well  as  dogs,"  said 
George,  "  if  conscience  can  be  awakened  in 
time.  Sooner  or  later  it  must  be — in  time 
or  in  eternity." 

"  Aye  Geordie,  I  dare  say  you'll  make  a 
fine  sarmont  out  of  the  poor  dog's  pec- 
adillo !  " 

"  Certainly,  we  can  find  matter  enough 
if  we've  a  mind  to  improve  it." 

"  Well  Geordie,  let's  hear  what  you  can 
make  of  it." 

"  In  the  first  place  I  observed,  that  Old 
Sailor  seemed  to  think  himself  very  smart, 
when  he  had  stolen  your  almanac  :  and  he 
appeared  much  amused,  while  he  was  tear- 
ing it  in  pieces,  and  thought  himself  safe 
from  punishment.  In  like  manner  I  have 
often  observed  that  men  think  it  very  witty 
to  commit  sin,  and  seem  much  tickled  with 


THE    GOLDEN   RULE.  51 

their  own  smartness  while  they  are  doing  it ; 
and  afterwards  they  make  their  boast  of  it." 

"  Very  well, — go  on." 

"  When  their  iniquity  is  accomplished 
they  think  it  is  done  with,  and  let  it  pass 
from  their  mind  ;  just  as  the  dog  seemed  to 
forget  he  had  been  in  mischief,  when  he 
came  to  you  after  dinner.  But  when  he 
found  his  transgression  was  remembered, 
and  that  the  time  of  retribution  had  arrived, 
he  dropped  his  tail  between  his  legs  and 
sneaked  along  behind  you  to  receive  his 
punishment.  He  looked  silly  enough,  and 
I  dare  say  began  to  think  his  trick  was  not 
quite  so  witty  as  he  had  thought  at  first. — 
Even  so  sneakish  will  the  sinner  feel  when 
he  sees  that  his  iniquity  is  not  forgotten,  and 
finds  the  hour  of  his  calamity  is  upon  him. 
Captain  Darrick,  how  do  you  think  an  un- 
repentant sinner,  can  stand  before  the  judg- 
ment seat  at  the  last  day ;  will  he  not  be 
more  crestfallen  than  was  your  poor  dog  ? 
Will  not  his  conscience  goad  him  with  his 
sins  while  he  feels  upon  him,  the  eye  of  that 
God  who,  he  knows,  will  surely  punish  him 
for  them  ?  " 


62  ALNOMUC :    OR 

"  I  must  confess  George,  it  makes  me  feel 
ugly  to  think  of  it." 

"  And  yet  Dick,  if  you  die  unrepentant 
you  will  find,  the  thought  is  not  half  so  ap- 
palling as  the  reality  will  prove.  Ah,  how 
can  the  naked  soul  appear  before  the  Eter- 
nal with  all  its  sins  uncovered.  But  clothed 
with  Christ's  righteousness  it  may  ap- 
pear, and  with  joy  take  its  place  at  the 
Saviour's  right  hand.  What  folly  then  for 
a  sinful  creature  to  neglect  making  prepara- 
tion for  that  day." 


THE  GOLDEN   RULE.  53 

CHAPTER  V. 

THE   WORTH   OF  A   DOG'S   GOOD   WILL. 

OLD  SAILOR,  though  he  submitted  to  his 
sentence  as  well  as  he  could,  felt  his  confine- 
ment a  very  grievous  punishment.  When 
any  of  the  crew  passed  him  he  was  sure  to 
come  out  to  secure  a  little  notice;  and  after  he 
had  followed  them  to  the  length  of  his  chain, 
he  would  mourn  and  whine  because  he  could 
go  no  further,  and  much  sympathy  and 
compassion  he  excited  among  the  seamen. 

He  was  like  many  a  frank-hearted  jolly 
old  soul,  of  whom  it  is  said,  "  a  better  man 
may  be  better  spared."  So  it  was  with  Old 
Sailor ;  his  social  qualities  were  much 
valued  by  the  tars  :  arid  though  he  would 
tear  their  jackets  and  eat  up  their  hats  and 
shoes,  they  were  willing  to  overlook  these 
peccadilloes  in  regard  to  his  good  compan- 
ionship. And  one  thing  the  tars  observed 
of  him;  he  was  never  known  to  steal  a 
"  chaw  of  tobacco." 
6« 


54  ALNOMUC :    OR 

The  third  day  of  Sailor's  confinement, 
with  one  accord  they  resolved  to  send  a  pe- 
tition to  captain  Darrick  for  his  release, 
promising  to  become  guarantee  for  his  good 
behavior.  The  captain  did  not  feel  much 
confidence  in  the  reformation  of  the  culprit, 
nor  did  he  feel  much  security  in  the  guaran- 
ty of  the  seamen  :  nevertheless  he  was  glad 
of  the  opportunity  to  release  his  old  favorite 
from  durance,  and  determined  to  guard 
against  his  roguery  by  keeping  things  out 
of  his  way. 

Bob  Ringtail  was  the  principal  agent  in 
effecting  the  release  of  Old  Sailor  :  and  soon 
after  he  cast  him  loose,  he  was  called  with 
some  others  to  haul  up  the  mainsail ;  the 
dog  hastened  to  do  his  share  of  the  work. 
Since  he  was  let  loose,  he  had  been  flying 
about  deck  like  a  dog  possessed,  and  no 
sooner  did  he  see  the  seamen  take  hold  of 
the  clewline  than  he  ran  to  join. 

Now  Bob  Ringtail  was  a  bit  of  a  dandy 
in  his  way,  and  withal  very  particular  about 
the  set  of  his  trowsers,  the  lower  parts  of 
which  were  large  enough  to  be  a  couple  of 


THE    GOLDEN    RULE.  55 

meal  bags,  but  above  they  were  snug  as  his 
skin.  Indeed  I  may  say  much  snugger,  for 
the  canvass  was  drawn  as  taught  as  a  drum 
head.  This  being  the  case,  and  Bob  being 
the  only  one  handy  to  lay  hold  of,  it  is  no 
wonder  Old  Sailor  found  it  necessary  to 
give  a  sharp  grip  :  in  his  eargerness  he  bit 
a  little  too  close,  and  nipped  a  portion  of  the 
seaman's  flesh  together  with  the  canvass. 

This  attack  upon  his  rear  was  altogether 
unexpected  by  Bob,  in  the  suddenness  of 
his  surprise  he  uttered  an  exclamation,  and 
his  fist  fell  like  a  thunder  bolt  upon  the 
head  of  Old  Sailor. 

"  Hi  spi,  Hi  spi,"  cried  the  dog  and  im- 
mediately commenced  a  retreat.  Bob  fol- 
lowed up  and  sought  to  ease  the  pain  of  his 
nether  man  by  bestowing  sundry  hearty 
kicks  upon  the  hinder  end  of  Old  Sailor. 

"  Well  Sailor,"  said  George  Dilloway, 
"  that's  returning  evil  for  good,  and  not  at 
all  like  a  grateful  dog." 

Old  Sailor  was  now  much  worse  than 
before,  and  seemed  possessed  with  the  very 
spirit  of  mischief :  before  the  day  was  out, 


66  ALNOMUC !    OR 

it  was  again  found  necessary  to  order  his 
confinement. 

This  time  George  sought  to  have  him  re- 
leased. "  You'll  be  the  first  to  suffer  for  it 
George,"  said  captain  Darrick,  "  just  as 
Bob  was  yesterday." 

"  Well  let  him  free,  Darrick,"  replied  his 
friend,  "  and  I  shall  be  willing  to  take  my 
chance :  and  with  the  captain's  consent, 
George  soon  liberated  the  old  dog. 

Dick  Darrick' s  prophecy  was  soon  fulfil- 
ed.  It  was  not  long  before  George  was  as- 
sisting two  of  the  men  to  set  the  spanker : 
the  throat  of  the  gaff  was  almost  up,  and 
he  took  a  turn  with  the  halliards  under  a  pin 
while  the  seamen  swayed  away  upon  them. 
The  operation  did  not  escape  the  notice  of 
Old  Sailor,  who  hastened  to  secure  his  share 
of  the  fun. 

Now  George  was  by  no  means  so  snug 
in  his  gearing  as  Bob  Ringtail :  more  espe- 
cially the  long  flaps  of  his  coat  flying  in  the 
wind,  were  just  the  thing  Sailor  wanted, 
It  might  appear  to  the  old  dog,  that  they 
were  made  on  purpose  for  him  to  haul  by  : 


THE    GOLDEN    RULE.  67 

at  any  rate  he  was  not  long  in  appropri- 
ating them.  But  the  cloth  was  not  calculated 
for  such  service ;  and  moreover  it  was  a 
veteran  garment  whose  strength  was  de- 
cayed by  age  :  it  is  no  wonder  then,  when 
Sailor  pulled  with  might  and  main,  that  the 
stitches  should  give  way. 

George  could  not  let  go  the  rope  to  pre- 
vent his  skirts  being  torn  from  him  ;  but  he 
belayed  it  in  time  to  save  them  from  being 
carried  off  by  the  dog  to  be  munched  up  at 
his  leisure,  as  was  doubtless  the  intention 
of  the  old  reprobate  when  he  found  himself 
possessed  of  the  prize. 

George  Dilloway  looked  dolefully  over 
his  shoulder  at  the  shorn  honors  of  his  coat : 
the  dog  looked  too,  and  the  lurking  laughter 
of  his  eye  shew  that  the  brute  thought  it 
a  very  good  joke.  What  was  done  could 
not  be  helped  ;  so  thought  George  Dilloway, 
and  he  turned  quietly  away  saying,  "  well 
Sailor  how  would  you  like  it  if  I  should 
tear  off  your  tail  ?  " 

"  You  seem  to  take  it  cooly  Geordie ;  you 
remind  me  of  the  old  gentleman  who 


58  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

thought  the  man  ought  to  be  "  spoke  to," 
who  shot  him  in  the  wrist  as  he  was  stand- 
ing at  his  own  front  door.  You  see  I  was 
not  so  far  out  of  the  way,  when  I  said  you'd 
be  the  first  to  suffer  for  liberating  that  mis- 
chievous fellow ! " 

"  Well,  well,  Darrick,  I'm  not  sorry  I  set 
him  free  for  all  that." 

Before  that  sun  was  set  which  was  then 
shining  above  his  head,  George  Dilloway 
had  much  reason  to  be  thankful  that  he  had 
let  the  old  dog  loose.  All  the  crew  were 
busily  engaged  on  the  weather  side  of  the 
deck,  and  George  was  in  the  lee  main  rig- 
ging, when  his  foot  slipped  and  plunged  him 
into  the  water. 

The  ship  was  going  at  the  rate  of  ten 
knots,  and  not  a  human  eye  saw  him  fall, 
no  ear  heard  his  plunge :  the  ship  passed 
in  her  rapid  course  and  he  was  soon  far 
astern. 

Old  Sailor  was  standing  by  the  windlass 
and  he  saw  the  young  man  disappear.  One 
long  and  wild  yell  he  gave — his  first  leap 
carried  him  to  the  top  of  the  spars,  the  next 


THE    GOLDEN   RULE.  59 

was  over  the  ship's  side.  "  Dog  overboard," 
exclaimed  the  seaman  at  the  helm. 

"  Hard  down  your  helm !  back  your  main 
topsail  boys,"  cried  the  mate.  "  What's  got 
into  the  brute  1 " 

The  noise  brought  captain  Darrick  upon 
deck  :  "  I've  half  a  mind  to  let  the  rascal 
go,"  he  said.  "  He's  more  trouble  than  he's 
worth  !  " 

"  Here's  Mr.  Dillo way's  hat  in  the  main 
chains,"  cried  one  of  the  seamen. 

"  What !  "  exclaimed  the  captain  ;  and  he 
looked  wildly  round  among  the  crew.  His 
young  friend  was  not  to  be  seen.  He  could 
not  wait  to  go  round  the  companion,  but 
sprang  to  the  top  of  it,  and  from  thence  to 
the  quarter  railing,  and  into  the  whale  boat 
over  the  ship's  side.  Four  seamen  were 
already  in  it.  "  Lower  away,"  he  cried, 
"  lower  roundly — let  go  ;  "  and  the  boat 
was  almost  plunged  under  the  water,  for 
the  ship  had  as  yet  lost  none  of  her  way. 
By  a  vigorous  effort  the  tackles  were  cast 
off — "  Pull  away,  pull  away,  my  lads." 

The  boat  shot  ahead :  but  there  was  more 


60  ALNOMUC:  OR 

haste  than  good  speed;  for  now  captain 
Derrick  was  uncertain  which  way  to  steer. 
Neither  the  dog  nor  the  supercargo  were  to 
be  seen,  and  the  sea  was  so  rough  that  so 
small  a  thing  as  a  man's  head  was  not 
likely  to  "be  perceived  at  a  distance  :  more- 
over the  ship  had  made  such  a  sweep  in 
coming  to,  that  a  very  imperfect  estimate 
could  be  made  of  the  bearing  of  an  object 
in  her  former  wake.  However,  captain 
Darrick  made  the  best  guess  he  could,  and 
they  went  on  for  about  a  mile :  for  so  far 
did  he  judge  the  ship  must  have  come  be- 
fore she  was  brought  to.  But  let  us  see 
what  has  become  of  George. 

When  he  fell  he  sunk  deep  in  the  water, 
and  did  not  rise  to  the  surface  till  the  vessel 
had  passed  him  :  then  his  mouth  was  filled, 
so  that  he  could  not  cry  out.  And  it  would 
have  been  of  little  use  if  he  could,  since  his 
voice  must  have  been  drowned  amid  the 
rushing  of  the  waters  beneath  the  ship's 
counter  and  in  her  wake. 

George  Dilloway  was  but  an  indifferent 
swimmer,  and  altogether  unused  to  so  rough 


• 


THE    GOLDEN    RULE.  61 

a  sea.  But  he  soon  found  he  was  not  alone, 
and  right  glad  he  Avas  of  the  company  of 
Old  Sailor.  With  one  arm  now  resting 
upon  the  back  of  the  faithful  dog,  and  his 
hand  interlocked  with  his  hair,  he  could 
support  himself  very  comfortably :  and  as 
he  could  see  that  the  ship  was  rounding  to, 
he  felt  for  a  time  quite  at  his  ease. 

Not  so  however,  when  he  found  he  was 
not  perceived.  He  saw  the  men  laying 
upon  their  oars  in  uncertainty  :  then  again 
they  began  to  pull,  but  it  was  away  from 
him,  and  his  heart  sunk.  He  raised  his 
voice,  but  it  was  all  unheard  :  loud  and  still 
louder  did  he  call,  but  neither  answer  nor 
recognition  was  returned.  At  times  the  boat 
would  draw  near,  and  again  move  off  ex- 
citing alternately  hope  and  despondency. 
Round  arid  round  him  did  they  pull,  and 
then  seemed  to  give  up  in  despair. 

But  the  dog  now  lifted  up  his  voice.  A 
long,  loud,  and  deep  howl  he  gave  as  when 
at  midnight  he  bayed  the  moon.  "  Hold 
boys,"  exclaimed  captain  Darrick,  "  I  hear 
the  dog's  whine  ! "  Wild  and  shrill  rose 
6 


6'^  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

the  cry  from  amidst  the  heaving  billows  :  to 
his  master  it  was  a  joyful  sound,  and  he 
directed  the  boat's  head  to  meet  it.  Again 
he  stopped  in  uncertainty :  but  the  cry  rose 
again,  and  in  a  few  moments  more,  both 
George  and  his  preserver  were  in  the  boat. 

"  If  ever  I  forget  that  dog's  service,  I 
won't  call  myself  Dick  Darrick  any  more  : 
for  I  should  be  ashamed  of  my  name :  "  and 
the  captain  took  the  head  of  the  faithful 
animal  in  his  lap  while  he  caressed  him. 
The  dog  was  quiet,  but  seemed  conscious  he 
had  done  his  duty. 

"  So  you  see  Darrick,  I  was  not  much 
the  loser  after  all,  by  setting  Old  Sailor 
adrift :  for  I  should  have  been  far  enough 
astern  before  you  missed  me,  had  it  not 
been  for  him." 

"  That's  true  George ;  the  fellow  shall 
have  his  liberty  if  he  eats  up  all  the  alma- 
nacs in  the  ship.  Perhaps  if  you  had  given 
him  a  threshing  for  tearing  your  coat,  he 
wouldn't  have  been  in  such  a  hurry  to  go 
overboard  for  you ;  for  I've  known  him  to  be 
sulky  a  whole  day  after  having  a  flogging." 


THE    GOLDEN    RULE.  63 

"  So  you  see  Darrick,  it's  just  as  well,  not 
to  throw  away  the  good  will  even  of  a  dog." 

"  You're  right  George,  and  I  wish  I  could 
always  act  upon  your  principles.  At  any 
rate,  I  shall  remember  Old  Sailor  for  this 
day's  work :  for  how  could  I  have  looked 
the  old  folks  in  the  face,  had  I  returned 
home  without  being  able  to  give  any  ac- 
count of  their  son — without  even  being  able 
to  say  how  he  was  lost !  It  would  be  but 
a  poor  story  to  tell,  that  you  had  disappear- 
ed, no  one  could  say  how  !  " 

"  Aye,  Darrick ;  but  there's  another  we 
should  be  thankful  to,  besides  the  dog :  the 
poor  brute  was  but  the  instrument  used,  to 
effect  what  God  in  his  Providence  meant 
should  be  done.  Should  we  not  then  be 
mindful  of  God  while  receiving  his  mercies." 

•'  It  is  but  reasonable,  George." 

"  No  man  of  sense  would  say  otherwise. 
But  it  is  astonishing  how  unreasonably 
some  men  of  sense  will  act.  What  a  fool 
you  would  have  thought  me,  if  I  had  re- 
fused to  use  the  means  provided  for  the 
preservation  of  my  life — the  assistance  of 


64  ALNOMUC  !    OR 

the  dog  to  support  me  in  the  water,  and  of 
the  boat  to  carry  me  back  to  the  ship !  But 
what  is  the  present  life  compared  to  eternity ; 
of  what  consequence  is  a  residence  on  the 
earth  when  compared  with  the  importance 
of  securing  an  admittance  into  heaven.  Yet 
men  supposed  to  be  in  their  right  mind,  who 
would  give  up  all  their  wealth  for  a  few 
years  of  life,  even  if  that  life  must  be  a  life 
of  sorrow,  are  still  regardless  of  the  interests 
of  eternity — are  willing  to  exchange  their 
hopes  of  future  happiness,  for  a  little  gain  or 
a  little  pleasure." 

Captain  Darrick  assented,  as  he  always 
did,  to  what  his  friend  said  ;  and  though  he 
gave  no  evidence  of  a  change  of  heart,  yet 
George  was  pleased  to  observe  that  his  hab- 
its of  profanity  were  abated — that  he  was 
more  particular  in  the  observance  of  the 
Sabbath,  and  that  his  Bible  no  longer  con- 
tinued a  sealed  book.  George  began  to  hope 
for  his  friend  :  and  he  thought  what  a  pleas- 
ant voyage  this  would  be,  and  how  thank- 
ful he  should  be  to  God  for  sending  him  on 
it,  if  it  should  result  in  the  conversion  of  one 
in  whom  he  felt  so  much  interest. 


THE   GOLDEN   RULE.  66 


CHAPTER  VI. 

SOME  ACCOUNT  OF  ONE  LAND  CRAB. 

GEORGE  DILLOWAY  had  a  kind  and  affec- 
tionate heart,  and  like  most  youths  who  have 
had  but  little  experience  of  this  cold  and 
selfish  world,  he  had  sensitive  feelings 
keenly  alive  to  the  sufferings  and  distresses 
of  others.  His  friend  captain  Darrick  often 
laughed  at  him  for  this  sensitiveness,  which 
was  ever  breaking  out  in  a  sort  of  knight- 
erranty ;  this  continually  led  him  to  espouse 
the  cause  of  those  he  thought  oppressed  or 
persecuted.  It  was  not  that  Dick  Darrick 
had  an  unfeeling  heart;  but  he  had  been 
bred  in  a  harder  school,  and  many  things  to 
him  seemed  of  no  consequence,  which  to 
his  friend,  appeared  to  be  intolerable  evils. 

Old  Sailor  was  not  the  only  one  on  board 
the  Alnomuc  that  excited  in  George  these 
sympathetic  feelings  :  nor  was  he  the  only 
persecuted  animal,  if  indeed  he  may  be  said 


66  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

to  have  been  persecuted  at  all,  since  his 
confinement,  and  an  occasional  threshing  to 
which  he  was  subjected,  were  the  just  re- 
compense of  his  roguery  :  and  he  evidently 
understood  them  to  be  so.  But  there  were 
those,  and  especially  among  the  green  hands, 
who  were  often  in  trouble,  and  sometimes 
made  to  suffer  unnecessary  pain.  This  was 
not  always  caused  by  a  desire  to  inflict 
pain  on  the  part  of  others,  but  it  often  arose 
from  the  rough  ways  of  the  seamen,  to 
which  the  landsmen  were  unused  ;  and  not 
unfrequently  from  the  very  acts  of  kindness 
manifested  by  the  old  sea  dogs  towards 
those  unaccustomed  to  their  element,  as  in 
the  case  of  captain  Darrick  when  he  drag- 
ged George  from  his  berth  during  his  sea 
sickness,  knowing  it  to  be  for  his  friend's 
good  to  move  about  and  get  a  little  fresh 
air.  Sometimes  too,  it  was  brought  to  pass 
by  the  love  of  frolic,  so  natural  to  a  sailor. 
The  jolly  tars  found  one  source  of  never 
ending  amusement  in  the  person  and  move- 
ments of  the  ship's  tailor  ;  for  the  nature  of 
the  present  voyage,  rendered  it.  expedient  to 


THE    GOLDEN   RULE.  67 

have  one  of  that  craft  on  board  the  vessel. 
This  personage  the  seamen  denominated 
"  Land  Crab,"  from  his  propensity  to  move 
sidelong,  that  by  holding  on  with  both 
hands,  he  might  better  guard  against  the 
rolling  of  the  ship.  The  underpinning  of 
his  person  was  never  of  the  best :  and  legs 
long  degraded  to  the  office  of  a  joint  stool, 
could  not  be  expected  to  afford  a  very  firm 
support.  These  members  themselves  were 
marvellously  crooked,  so  that  as  the  sailors 
said,  it  was  no  wonder  he  couldn't  walk 
straight ;  for  his  legs  they  said,  were  made 
for  turning  corners.  Even  on  the  land  he 
went  along  with  an  uncertain  shuffle,  and 
not  by  any  means  in  a  direct  line.  It  was 
evident  his  lower  spars  were  made  to  sit 
upon,  and  not  to  walk  with. 

Nevertheless  when  he  did  walk,  he  car- 
ried his  head  preposterously  high,  or  rather 
bent  back ;  this  gave  a  pomposity  to  his 
appearance  which  was  truly  ludicrous :  it 
seemed  as  if  he  wished  to  assume  a  military 
air,  not  at  all  in  accordance  with  the  un- 
steadiness of  his  step. 


bo  ALNOMUC :  OR 

Land  Crab  was  a  good  workman  at  his 
trade,  but  intemperance  had  driven  him  to 
sea.  On  the  voyage  for  which  he  was  em- 
barked, no  man  on  board  the  ship  was 
likely  to  become  more  useful  than  the  tailor, 
unless  indeed  it  were  the  armourer  and  car- 
penter. Nevertheless  the  poor  fellow  was 
despised  both  fore  and  aft,  for  it  was  evi- 
dent he  would  never  make  a  sailor  :  he  could 
not  even  learn  to  walk  the  deck,  much  less 
could  it  be  expected  that  he  would  become 
an  efficient  hand  aloft.  It  was  little  to  be 
wondered  at  then,  that  he  should  become 
the  butt  to  the  whole  crew,  for  the  sailors 
thought  him  a  very  legitimate  subject  for 
ridicule.  George  pitied  the  poor  fellow,  and 
took  every  opportunity  to  show  him  kind- 
ness :  and  especially  he  avoided  laughing  at 
him,  though  that  was  very  difficult  at  times ; 
but  he  thought  how  unpleasant  it  would  be 
to  himself  to  be  made  the  laughing  stock  of 
all  hands. 

For  this  forbearance  and  sympathy,  poor 
Land  Crab  felt  very  grateful ;  and  there 
was  nothing  he  would  not  have  been  wil- 


E   GOLDEN    RULE.  69 

ling  to  do,  in  return  for  the  kindness  and 
consideration  George  showed  to  him. 

The  tailor,  like  other  men  with  crooked 
legs,  had  a  large  share  of  romance  in  his 
disposition.  It  was  this  which  first  put  it 
into  his  head  to  go  to  sea,  though  his  in- 
temperate habits  drove  him  at  last. 

Withal  there  was  a  considerable  degree 
of  military  ardor  about  the  feeble  creature, 
and  when  the  crew  were  mustered  to  exer- 
cise with  small  arms  he  was  mustered  with 
them.  It  was  their  custom  to  drill  with 
unloaded  muskets :  but  the  armourer  ob- 
served that  Land  Crab  always  shut  his 
eyes  and  drew  back  when  he  touched  the 
trigger,  although  he  knew  the  gun  was  not 
loaded. 

Several  times  as  he  delivered  out  the 
muskets  he  passed  one  to  Land  Crab  heavi- 
ly charged,  which,  when  he  pulled  the 
trigger  never  failed  to  place  the  poor  tailor 
in  an  horizontal  position.  It  was  now  with 
fear  and  trembling  that  he  moved  his  hand 
towards  the  lock  of  his  gun,  and  yet  he  dared 
not  neglect  to  obey  when  the  officer  gave 
the  order  to  fire. 


70  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

One  day  George  was  on  deck  when  Land 
Crab,  with  several  others  were  brought  aft 
to  be  drilled.  As  he  was  sitting  on  the 
weather  side  of  the  companion  way,  he  felt 
some  one  touch  his  shoulder.  He  turned  ; 
it  was  Land  Crab  who  had  crept  along  the 
leeward  side  when  he  saw  no  one  looking. 
The  poor  fellow  was  frightened,  and  said 
in  a  hurried  tone  :  "  Mr.  Dilloway — Sir, — 
will  you  please  to  git  me,  Sir,  a  gun  what 
an't  loaded  1 " 

George  arose  and  walked  to  the  arm 
chest,  took  up  a  musket  and  sounded  it — 
then  handed  it  to  the  tailor.  There  was  a 
rogueish  grin  on  the  armourer's  face  as  he 
observed  this  process  :  but  the  look  of  hum- 
ble gratitude  with  which  Land  Crab  re- 
ceived the  harmless  weapon,  George  thought 
a  rich  recompense  for  his  trouble. 

When  Old  Sailor  had  torn  away  George's 
skirts  as  mentioned  in  the  last  chapter,  the 
tailor  thought  it  a  good  opportunity  to  make 
a  small  return  for  the  many  acts  of  kind- 
ness the  supercargo  had  shown  to  him.  He 
appeared  on  the  quarter  deck,  his  hat  in  his 


THE    GOLDEN   RULE.  71 

hand,  with  a  timid  sheepish  look,  keeping 
his  eyes  fixed  upon  the  deck. 

"  What  do  you  want,  tailor?  "  asked  cap- 
tain Darrick. 

"  If  Mr.  Dilloway  '11  let  me  mend  his 
coat  for  him,  Sir?" 

"  Why  tailor,  I  don't  think  it's  worth 
the  mending,"  George  replied. 

"I'll  do  it  so  nice  Sir,  you  shan't  tell 
where  it  was  torn." 

George  thought  since  his  coat  was  shorn 
of  its  honors,  he'd  wear  it  as  a  jacket,  but 
seeing  the  tailor  looked  disappointed,  he  told 
him  he  might  take  it  and  bind  the  raw  edge  : 
and  the  poor  fellow  went  forward,  glad  that 
he  could  do  something  for  his  benefactor. 

Bob  Ringtail  was  at  the  helm,  and  when 
captain  Darrick  went  below,  he  said  to 
George  :  "  Mr.  Dilloway  since  you're  a 
going  to  make  a  razee  of  that  'are  coat,  may 
be  you'll  give  me  the  fag  eend  :  it  '11  do  for 
patches  for  me,  and  it  won't  be  of  no  use  to 
yourself,  you  know,  Sir  ?  " 

George  gave  him  the  cloth,  and  when  Bob 
went  forward,  he  said  he  didn't  know  why 


T&  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

he  shouldn't  sport  a  swallow  tail  as  well  as 
the  supercargo.  So  he  stitched  the  dishon- 
ored flaps  to  his  own  round  jacket.  To  be 
sure  the  jacket  was  blue  and  the  skirts  were 
brown,  and  being  grafted  to  a  garment  to 
which  they  did  not  belong,  the  set  was  none 
of  snuggest.  Moreover  Bob  had  secured 
his  false  tail  by  means  of  tarred  twine,  with 
what  sailors  call  a  herring  bone  stitch,  so  that 
it  may  be  supposed  the  seam  was  more  ap- 
parent than  the  tailor  had  promised  George 
that  he  would  make  it. 

The  next  day,  George  with  the  captain 
were  lounging  upon  the  rail,  when  Bob  was 
going  aloft  on  ship's  duty :  the  swallow  tail 
immediately  caught  the  eye  of  the  latter. 
"  Well  George,"  he  said,  pointing  with  his 
thumb  to  the  ludicrous  figure,  "  I  guess 
you'll  doff  your  long  togs  now,  for  this 
voyage  !  "  George  looked  up  and  was  much 
amused  to  see  the  end  his  skirts  had  come 
to,  and  from  that  time  forth  he  ceased  to 
sport  a  swallow  tail  himself.  But  how  far 
the  fact  of  his  not  having  another  old  coat 
to  wear,  had  any  thing  to  do  with  the 


THE    GOLDEN    RULE.  73 

change  in  his  appearance,  the  reader  must 
judge. 

Let  us  return  to  our  tailor.  George  con- 
tinued to  show  him  acts  of  kindness,  and 
poor  Land  Crab  would  often  come  to  him 
in  the  night  watches  to  tell  him  of  his  griefs ; 
there  was  no  other  on  board  from  whom  he 
could  expect  sympathy,  for  to  the  seamen 
his  troubles  seemed  to  arise  from  such 
trifling  causes,  that  they  excited  their  mirth 
rather  than  their  compassion.  The  captain 
to  be  sure  pitied  the  poor  fellow,  but  to  him, 
the  discipline  of  the  ship  prevented  the  tailor 
from  opening  his  budget  of  grief :  but 
George  was  ever  ready  to  converse  with 
him,  as  he  was  with  all  the  crew,  both  for 
his  own  amusement  and  also  with  the  hope 
of  doing  them  good.  He  always  listened  to 
Land  Crab  with  patience  ;  and  indeed  it  re- 
quired not  a  little,  for  the  tailor  was  a  man 
of  a  sorrowful  spirit,  and  wordy  withal  in 
unburdening  his  soul. 

Now  the  poor  fellow  was  very  grateful 
for  this  patient  listening  as  well  as  for 
7 


74  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

George's  other  acts  of  kindness,  and  he  was 
very  anxious  to  show  his  gratitude.  But 
what  good  could  so  feeble  a  creature  do  ? 
Why  the  feeblest  man  is  above  a  dog ;  and 
a  dog  can  show  his  sense  of  favors  done 
him.  Land  Crab  found  an  opportunity, 
where  men  too  that  despised  him,  drew  back 
from  the  performance  of  their  duty. 

Peter  Durky  was  an  old  man-of-war  sai- 
lor :  he  had  also  been  a  privateer's  man, 
and  if  not  a  pirate,  he  was  piratical  enough 
in  his  disposition.  By  the  assistance  of  one 
of  the  ship's  boys  whom  he  had  taught  to 
creep  through  a  small  opening  into  the  after 
hold,  he  had  for  some  time  carried  on  depre- 
dations upon  the  cargo.  His  conduct  was 
disapproved  by  the  rest  of  the  crew,  but  they 
said  nothing  to  the  officers — some  because 
they  did  not  like  to  be  informers,  and  the 
green  hands,  because  they  feared  Durky, 
who  threatened  to  heave  overboard  any  one 
that  told  of  him  :  and  they  knew  right  well 
he  would  not  mind  committing  a  murder 
any  more  than  a  theft. 


THE    GOLDEN   RULE.  75 

One  day  Durky  was  displaying  some 
fresh  plunder  much  to  the  annoyance  of  the 
crew,  who  feared  they  would  come  in  for  a 
share  of  the  blame.  As  usual  he  threatened 
to  kill  any  man  that  told  of  him.  "  I  don't 
care  the  value  of  a  rope  yarn  for  your  threat 
Peter  Durky,"  said  Bob  Ringtail,  "  and  if  it 
wan't  for  gitting  the  karacter  of  an  inform- 
er, I'd  let  the  captain  know  afore  I  was  an 
hour  older." 

The  tailor  lived  in  the  steerage,  but  he 
was  then  by  the  forecastle  hatch  and  heard 
what  was  said  :  he  put  his  head  down  the 
scuttle,  and  said:  "You'd  better  do  your 
duty,  Bob,  and  that's  the  best  karicter." 

"You  there  !  you  ninth  part  of  a  man  ! 
You  waddling  yard  stick,  if  you  don't  keep 
your  screeching  pipe  shut  I'll  dip  you  in  the 
salt  pond,  or  my  name  an't  Peter  Durky." 

"  I  shall  do  my  duty,  Durky,  let  what 
will  come  of  it :  "  and  Land  Crab  shuffled 
aft  towards  the  quarter  deck  as  fast  as  he 
could,  while  Durky,  raging  like  a  chafed 
lion,  pitched  headlong  through  the  scuttle 
in  pursuit.  Poor  Land  Crab  felt  he  was 


76  ALNOMUC :    OR 

running  for  his  life,  and  his  legs  then  did 
him  service  which  astonished  all  who  saw 
him.  Well  for  him  it  was,  that  he  had 
start  enough  to  gain  the  quarter  deck  before 
his  enraged  pursuer  overtook  him. 

Neither  George  nor  the  captain  were  on 
deck  :  he  hastened  to  the  companion  way — 
his  foot  was  lifted,  but  Durky's  hand  was 
already  falling  upon  his  collar.  The  poor 
tailor  felt  that  his  case  was  desperate,  and 
he  took  a  desperate  remedy,  pitching  head 
first  down  the  companion  stairs. 

Once  safely  at  the  bottom,  Land  Crab  did 
not  stop  to  consider  whether  he  was  hurt, 
but  looked  back  to  see  what  had  become  of 
his  pursuer.  There  he  stood  looking  more 
like  a  demon  than  a  man  :  and  with  his 
hand  upon  his  throat,  plainly  signified  to  the 
tailor  what  was  to  be  his  fate.  But  the 
feeble  creature's  courage  was  screwed  up, 
and  the  threat  did  not  prevent  his  doing  his 
duty.  He  was  pleased  too  to  show  his  grati- 
tude, and  proved  that  he  had  more  moral 
courage  than  many  a  bolder  man  who  des- 
pised his  weakness. 


THE    GOLDEN   RULE.  77 


CHAPTER,  VII. 

THE    REVENGE. 

ON  examining  the  scene  of  the  depreda- 
tions, it  was  found  that  they  had  been  car- 
ried on  to  some  extent.  Nor  was  the  dam- 
age confined  to  the  articles  stolen,  for  many 
packages  had  been  cast  adrift,  so  that  they 
must  have  been  destroyed  in  the  rough 
weather  in  doubling  the  Cape,  had  it  not 
been  previously  discovered.  As  it  was,  lit- 
tle harm  was  done,  the  articles  taken  being 
mostly  recovered. 

It  seems  Durky  was  collecting  a  store,  in- 
tending to  desert  at  the  first  island  they 
should  touch  at :  he  would  have  had  wealth 
enough  perhaps  to  have  set  up  for  a  king  in 
the  South  Sea,  had  he  succeeded  in  getting 
off  with  his  booty.  He  frequently  made  his 
boast  among  his  shipmates  of  what  he  in- 
tended to  do,  and  endeavored  to  persuade 
some  of  them  to  join  him.  But  he  was  no 
favorite  with  the  crew ;  for  though  in  the 
7* 


78  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

main  he  was  a  clever  fellow  and  a  pleasant 
companion,  yet  they  knew  him  to  be  a  vil- 
lain of  the  deepest  dye,  and  rather  drew 
back  from  associating  with  him.  Though 
they  would  not  join  in  his  enterprise,  still 
they  did  not  inform  against  him  from  feeling 
that  disgrace  attached  to  the  character  of  an 
informer  :  and  to  this  feeling  he  trusted. 

When  he  found  that  Land  Crab  was  in- 
deed resolved  to  make  known  what  he  had 
heard,  he  went  forward  growling  out  ven- 
geance, swearing  to  put  the  tailor  to  every 
sort  of  torture.  Having  full  confidence  in 
his  villainy,  the  crew  believed  he  would 
fulfil  his  threats  if  he  ever  had  opportunity. 

When  Durky  was  called  aft  to  answer  for 
his  misdeeds  he  obeyed  the  summons,  but 
maintained  a  sullen  silence  when  question- 
ed, shooting  from  beneath  his  scowling 
brows  a  look  of  stern  defiance. 

The  boy  too  whom  he  had  used  to  effect 
his  wicked  purposes,  was  brought  to  the 
gangway  and  stripped  to  be  punished ;  he 
wailed  aloud  and  cried  for  mercy.  The 
heart  of  the  hardened  sinner  was  touched : 


THE   GOLDEN   RULE.  79 

"  Captain  Darrick,"  he  said,  "  that  boy  has 
done  nothing  but  what  I  made  him  do. 
Give  me  all  the  punishment ;  I  can  bear  it 
better  than  he." 

"  You're  too  deep  a  villain  to  be  let  off 
with  a  flogging  at  the  gangway,"  the  cap- 
tain replied.  Durky  drew  himself  up  and 
again  scowled  defiance  :  "  You  cannot  in- 
flict more  than  I  can  bear,  captain  Darrick." 
The  terms  he  used  were  not  those  of  a  sail- 
or, and  the  truth  flashed  on  the  mind  of  the 
captain  that  the  fellow  had  been  different 
from  what  he  appeared,  though  now  de- 
graded and  fallen :  however  he  made  no  re- 
mark, but  proceeded  to  have  the  lesser  cul- 
prit punished. 

When  this  was  accomplished  he  ordered 
Durky  to  be  put  in  irons.  The  crew  con- 
tinued silent  and  serious,  but  not  a  man 
moved  from  his  place  to  obey  the  order  :  as 
to  the  condemned,  he  held  himself  straight 
and  passed  his  eye  around  to  see  if  there 
were  any  hardy  enough  to  approach  him. 
He  was  truly  a  formidable  figure,  full  six 
feet  high  with  broad  shoulders  and  massy 


80 


ALNOMUC:    OR 


limbs,  making  a  display  of  strength  which 
all  on  board  knew  was  not  delusive. 
Though  there  were  those  among  the  crew 
who  would  have  faced  him  in  their  own 
quarrel,  yet  were  there  none  disposed  to  do 
so  for  the  invidious  purpose  of  putting  a 
shipmate  in  irons. 

The  fellow  seemed  sensible  of  the  advan- 
tage of  his  position,  and  the  curl  of  his 
upper  lip  and  the  flash  of  his  stern  grey  eye 
showed  that  he  enjoyed  it. 

"  Put  that  man  in  irons,  Mr.  Barnacle," 
said  the  captain. 

The  mates  waited  but  the  word  of  com- 
mand, and  sprang  forward,  like  a  pair  of 
dogs  when  the  leash  is  slipt  in  sight  of  the 
game.  The  sailor  like  the  king  of  the 
forest,  calmly  expected  the  onset :  he  stood 
in  conscious  strength,  and  a  scornful  smile 
expressed  how  little  he  cared  for  his  assail- 
ants, though  both  were  well  made  and  pow- 
erful men.  As  the  stormy  petrel  rejoices 
to  be  abroad  when  the  howling  tempest 
lashes  the  waters  into  a  rage,  so  contention 
and  strife  were  the  elements  in  which  Dur- 
ky  loved  to  live. 


THE    GOLDEN   RULE.  81 

He  continued  unmoved  till  like  two  blood 
hounds,  the  mates  leapt  upon  him.  Then 
suddenly  throwing  back  his  weight,  he 
seized  each  by  the  bosom  of  his  shirt ;  their 
chests  gave  forth  a  hollow  sound  as  his 
heavy  hand  fell  upon  them — his  arms  were 
extended,  and  they  were  dashed  upon  the 
deck. 

Seeing  his  officers  used  thus  unceremoni- 
ously, captain  Darrick  felt  that  it  was  time 
for  himself  to  act.  He  stopt  not  to  look  for 
the  dead  and  wounded,  but  rushed  forward 
to  quell  rebellion  in  its  beginning.  If  there 
was  a  man  on  board  who  could  meet  Dur- 
ky  on  equal  terms,  that  man  was  captain 
Darrick.  He  was  not  to  be  sure  so  tall  as 
the  powerful  sailor,  but  still  he  was  not  de- 
ficient in  weight,  and  in  strength,  perhaps, 
equalled  his  antagonist. 

But  captain  Darrick  had  an  advantage 
which  the  other  could  not  resist :  it  was 
the  habit  of  command.  Durky  had  resisted 
the  inferior  officers,  but  it  was  another  thing 
when  he  was  confronted  with  his  captain. 
Bold  and  daring  as  he  was,  his  look  fell 


82  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

before  the  fixed  countenance  of  captain  Dar- 
rick  :  and  when  the  latter  seized  him  by 
the  throat,  he  sunk  conquered  by  the  moral 
power  of  his  eye,  rather  than  by  the  strength 
of  his  arm. 

Meantime  the  mates  had  gained  their  legs, 
stung  to  the  quick  by  their  disgrace  ;  raging 
with  anger  they  again  came  upon  the  field 
of  strife.  Their  ribs  had  received  hard 
thumps  from  the  gunwale  of  the  ship,  against 
which  they  had  been  dashed,  but  they  were 
inured  to  rough  usage  and  thought  not  of 
the  hurt.  It  must  have  been  much  more 
severe,  to  have  checked  them  under  their 
present  excitement. 

"  Hand  me  those  irons,  Mr.  Crowell," 
said  the  cp.ptain,  and  the  second  mate 
sprang  forward  to  obey.  It  was  another 
thing  however  to  get  them  over  Durky's 
hands ;  and  it  was  only  by  the  efforts  of 
all  three,  that  the  irons  could  be  put  on  and 
the  fellow  carried  between  decks,  where 
his  feet  were  secured  in  another  set  of  irons, 
the  bar  of  which  was  passed  through  a  ring- 
bolt in  the  deck. 


THE   GOLDEN   RULE.  83 

Here  the  culprit  was  left  bound  in  iron 
and  in  darkness,  to  mediate  on  his  ill  spent 
life.  Far  from  his  thoughts  was  any  thing 
like  contrition  or  repentance  for  his  evil 
deeds,  however  he  might  regret  the  ill  suc- 
cess of  his  wickedness.  He  laid  himself  at 
his  length  upon  the  pine  plank  of  the  lower 
deck,  and  occupied  his  thoughts  in  brooding 
schemes  of  revenge  ;  and  especially  did  he 
vow  vengeance  upon  the  tailor,  should  he 
ever  get  the  poor  creature  intofcis  hands. 

There  was  no  bulkhead  between  the 
place  where  he  was  confined  and  the  steer- 
age into  which  the  light  shone  through  the 
after  hatchway:  he  could  of  course  see 
what  was  done  there,  though  he  himself 
was  hid  in  gloomy  darkness.  Several  times 
did  he  perceive  poor  Land  Crab,  unconscious 
of  any  danger,  come  towards  the  place 
where  he  was,  groping  about  for  some  arti- 
cle he  was  in  search  of.  Meantime,  Durky 
lay  quiet  like  a  cat  watching  his  prey, 
ready  to  spring  whenever  his  poor  victim 
should  come  within  his  reach. 

Thus  passed  three  days  and  his  patience 


84  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

did  not  tire.  His  eyes,  accustomed  to  the 
medium  in  which  he  was  confined,  could 
see  plainly  every  thing  about  him,  though 
to  one  just  entering,  it  appeared  Isiut  perfect 
darkness. 

So  it  was  on  the  third  day,  when  Land 
Crab  came  feeling  about  in  search  of  a  box 
which  contained  some  of  his  work.  Durky 
spoke  not,  nor  stirred,  yet  every  muscle 
was  braced  to  spring.  Land  Crab  groped 
to  the  rigb^and  left,  each  time  drawing 
nearer"  to  his  hidden  foe.  At  last  he  put 
forth  his  hand  upon  Durky 's  leg  :  he  utter- 
ed a  faint  cry,  his  hand  drew  back  instinct- 
ly,  the  blood  seemed  to  curdle  in  his  veins, 
arid  the  hair  to  rise  upon  his  head.  He 
hastily  turned  to  make  his  escape,  but  it  was 
too  late  :  the  clanking  of  the  fetters  in  the 
ring  bolt  gave  indication  that  his  enemy 
was  in  motion.  It  was,  like  the  fierce  hiss 
and  sharp  rattle  of  the  hidden  serpent,  an 
alarm  of  death  :  for  at  that  very  moment 
the  tailor  felt  a  strong  grasp  upon  his  waist- 
band. 

Durky  drew  his  victim  towards  him  with 


THE  GOLDEN  RULE.  85 

a  force  which  even  despair,  could  not  give 
the  poor  creature  power  to  resist.  "  Oh  do 
not  kill  me, — do  not  kill  me  now,  Mr.  Dur- 
ky,"  he  exclaimed  in  a  supplicating  tone, 
at  the  same  time  holding  out  his  hand  for 
mercy. 

"  Not  kill  you,  you  reptile  ! — Yes  !  I  will 
murder  you,  and  your  heart's  blood  '11  be  the 
sweetest  drop  I've  tasted  for  many  a  long 
day."  The  voice  of  the  savage  was  stop- 
ped by  the  hand  of  his  vicl^i,  which  he 
had  seized  with  his  teeth  that  he  might  hold 
him  while  he  shifted  his  grasp  to  the  throat ; 
for  his  wrists  being  confined  by  the  same 
fetter,  he  could  not  move  one  hand  without 
moving  the  other  at  the  same  time. 

Land  Crab  gave  a  loud  shriek  as  he  felt 
the  hand  of  the  murderer  upon  his  throat  : 
the  fingers  closed  upon  his  windpipe,  and 
the  shriek  died  away  in  an  horribly  un- 
earthly sound,  as  the  rattling  breath  made 
a  desperate  effort  to  force  a  passage.  The 
noise  ceased,  and  all  was  silent. 

That  shriek  of  despair  had  been  heard, 
and  the  sepulchral  sound  which  followed  it, 


86  ALNOMTJC  :    OR 

but  help  must  arrive  quickly  or  it  will  come 
too  late. 

George  Dilloway  was  sitting  on  the  spars 
upon  the  main  deck  reading  in  the  shade  of 
the  mainsail,  when  he  heard  the  noise  be- 
neath him.  He  was  at  no  loss  to  guess  the 
purport  of  the  sound. 

Luckily  the  tarpaulin  of  the  main  hatch 
had  not  been  battened  down.  He  threw  it 
back,  drew  off  one  of  the  quarter  hatches, 
leapt  down,!fend  was  in  the  midst  of  the 
horrid  scene.  There  lay  the  poor  tailor 
across  the  lap  of  his  inveterate  foe,  exhibit- 
ing the  black  and  bloated  look  and  the 
starting  eyeballs  of  a  strangled  man. 

George's  ringers  were  wholly  powerless 
to  unlock  the  firm  grasp  of  the  determined 
murderer.  Others  had  reached  the  spot 
almost  as  soon  as  he,  and  it  was  only  by 
the  united  strength  of  many  hands  that  his 
fingers  could  at  length  be  removed  from 
the  throat  of  his  victim.  Still  more  trouble 
had  they  to  separate  his  teeth  from  the  hand 
he  held  in  his  mouth  ;  and  not  till  his 
jaws  were  forced  apart  with  a  marlingspike, 


THE   GOLDEN   RULE.  87 

in  doing  which  one  of  his  teeth  was  knock- 
ed out,  could  this  be  effected. 

As  to  Land  Crab,  though  he  was  at  last 
drawn  from  the  clutches  of  his  foe,  there 
was  no  appearance  of  life  in  him.  However 
on  captain  Darrick's  applying  his  lancet  to 
a  vein,  the  blood  was  found  to  flow  ;  and 
by  persevering  attention  he  was  at  last 
brought  to,  much  surprised  to  find  himself 
still  in  the  land  of  the  living.  He  was 
placed  in  his  berth,  and  after  some  days,  re- 
covered from  the  bodily  harm,  and  in  part 
from  the  fright  he  had  sustained ;  his  hand 
however  always  after  bore  marks  of  the 
villain's  teeth. 

As  to  Durky  he  threw  himself  sulkily 
upon  the  deck  when  he  found  his  prey 
snatched  from  him :  and  there  he  lay  utter- 
ing curses  "  not  loud  but  deep,"  and  vow- 
ing vengeance  upon  all  who  had  helped  to 
baulk  him  of  his  revenge. 

The  other  seamen  stood  around  and  lis- 
tened to  his  deep  muttered  curses  with 
horror,  for  it  was  too  evident  they  were  not 
the  idle  growling  of  a  discontented  spirit, 


OO  ALNOMUC :    OR 

but  expressive  of  the  fixed  purpose  of  a 
desperado. 

Upon  George  he  was  particularly  liberal 
of  his  threats,  and  captain  Darrick  deter- 
mined to  guard  against  them,  by  putting 
him  out  of  the  way  of  doing  mischief. 


THE    GOLDEN   RULE.  89 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  CHRISTIAN'S  REVENGE. 

SEVERAL  days  had  passed  away,  when 
early  one  morning,  the  crew  of  the  Alno- 
muc  were  aroused  by  the  startling  cry  of 
"land,  ho!" 

Every  one  hastened  to  obtain  a  sight  of 
the  desired  object :  for  although  it  was  well 
known  that  the  islands  they  were  approach- 
ing, were  but  a  cluster  of  barren,  uninhabited 
rocks,  situated  in  a  bleak  inhospitable  re- 
gion, they  still  possessed  an  interest  to  those, 
who,  for  day  after  day,  and  week  after  week, 
had  only  looked  at  a  dreary  expanse  of 
waters  on  every  side,  unbroken  but  by  their 
own  heavings,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach. 

It  is  astonishing  what  a  trifle  will  pos- 
sess an  interest  for  the  sea-worn  mariner, 
when  months  of  incessant  motion  have  cut 
him  off  from  all  the  world  except  the  small 
portion  enclosed  in  his  own  little  bark. 
Any  thing  to  break  the  dull  monotony  of 
8* 


90  ALNOMUC  I   OR 

the  sailor's  life  has  an  attraction  for  him — 
the  spouting  of  a  whale, — the  flight  of  a 
school  of  flying  fish — the  appearance  of  a 
sea  bird,  though  there  be  no  novelty  in  the 
sight,  still  attracts  attention,  and  is  made 
the  subject  of  remark.  Much  more  must 
the  first  looming  of  land,  though  it  be  but 
a  barren  rock  or  an  uninhabited  island, 
have  an  interest  to  those  who  for  weeks  and 
months  have  not  seen  the  land — to  whom 
the  remembrance  of  the  dry  ground  comes 
in  the  mistiness  of  an  almost  forgotten 
dream,  rather  than  as  the  recollection  of  a 
known  reality,  so  natural  has  it  become  to 
live  upon  the  water. 

"  Well  Geordie,"  said  captain  Darrick, 
"  I'm  glad  once  more  to  see  the  land." 

"  I  thought  you  meant  to  pass,  without 
making  these  islands  ?  "  replied  the  super- 
cargo. 

"  I  did  think  of  it :  but  since  that  affair 
the  other  day,  I've  changed  my  mind.  I 
mean  to  run  in,  and  put  our  character 
ashore." 

"  But  you  do  not  mean  to  leave  him  on 


THE    GOLDEN   RULE.  91 

these  desolate  islands,  and  winter  coming 
on  too !  He  will  perish  with  cold  and 
hunger." 

"  I  think  he  will  not.  But  he  must  take 
his  chance  of  that ;  it  is  not  safe  to  keep  the 
rascal  on  board — he  is  a  desperate  villain, 
and  has  threatened  your  life  among  others." 

George  said  he  was  willing  to  take  the 
risk,  and  tried  hard  to  persuade  his  friend  to 
forego  the  punishment :  "  I  am  not  willing 
to  take  the  risk,  if  you  are,  George,"  the 
captain  replied,  and  continued  firm  to  his 
purpose. 

"What  land's  that?"  Durky  asked  of 
the  steward  as  the  latter  brought  him  his 
breakfast. 

"  It  be  one  ob  de  Foglant  islands.  The 
cap  tin  say  run  de  ship  close  under  de  land." 

"  And  what  are  they  running  in  for  ?  " 
said  the  prisoner  in  a  husky  voice  and  turn- 
ing quite  pale.  The  steward  could  not  tell, 
but  the  prisoner  well  guessed  the  captain's 
purpose.  He  had  never  taken  it  into  his 
calculation  to  be  left  on  a  desolate  island  in 


92  ALNOMUC :  OR 

the  bleak  latitude  of  Cape  Horn,  and  the 
winter  approaching  too  ;  for  it  was  now  the 
month  of  May,  answering  to  the  November 
of  Northern  latitude.  No  one  could  better 
appreciate  the  extent  of  the  sentence,  for  no 
man  on  board  was  better  informed — not 
even  the  captain  or  supercargo,  than  the 
prisoner. 

Noon  came  and  found  Durky  sitting  alone 
on  the  peak  of  an  high  hill,  the  only  human 
being  probably  in  that  whole  cluster  of 
islands.  One  object  alone  absorbed  his  at- 
tention, and  that  was,  a  ship  in  the  distance 
fast  receding  from  the  land. 

When  the  prisoner  was  relieved  from  his 
irons  and  ordered  upon  deck,  he  sulkily 
obeyed :  he  got  into  the  boat  when  com- 
manded, for  he  was  too  proud  to  ask  a  re- 
mission of  his  sentence,  though  he  felt  it  was 
worse  than  a  sentence  of  death.  George 
stood  in  the  gangway  and  placed  a  book  in 
his  pocket  as  he  passed,  and  this  little  act 
of  kindness  almost  overcame  his  stubborn- 


THE   GOLDEN   RULE.  93 

ness  of  spirit ;  he  had  expected  to  meet  only 
the  scorn  of  others,  and  he  was  prepared  to 
brave  it :  any  other  feeling  he  had  not  ex- 
pected to  find. 

He  felt  that  he  was  a  villain,  and  that 
every  finger  was  pointed  at  him.  He  de- 
termined to  be  a  resolute  villain — believing 
that  none  felt  a  sympathy  with  him,  he 
would  not  show  the  weakness  of  desiring 
it :  but  when  he  found  there  was  one  who 
felt  some  interest  in  his  welfare,  wound  up 
as  his  feelings  were,  it  almost  brought  tears 
into  his  eyes.  He  would  have  given  one 
half  his  hopes  of  life,  slight  as  those  hopes 
were,  could  he  have  thanked  George  for  his 
kindness;  but  his  pride  would  not  allow 
him  to  exhibit  the  weakness,  while  the  eyes 
of  the  crew  were  upon  him. 

Gloomily  he  sat  on  the  boat's  bows  while 
his  shipmates  silently  pulled  him  towards 
the  beach ;  and  having  landed,  he  walked 
straight  off  from  the  shore  without  saying 
a  word,  or  in  any  way  responding  to  the 
boat's  crew,  who  now  had  their  sympathies 
fully  excited. 


94  ALNOMTJC  :    OR 

He  walked  on  without  looking  back  till 
he  reached  the  summit  of  the  hill.  He  then 
turned  to  look  upon  the  ship — she  was  al- 
ready making  her  way  seaward  :  he  seated 
himself  on  a  fallen  tree,  and  felt  that  he  was 
now  indeed  alone.  He  cared  not  to  restrain 
himself  any  longer — his  full  heart  was 
ready  to  burst,  and  his  feelings  found  vent 
in  a  flood  of  tears — the  first  bitter  flood  his 
hard  heart  had  allowed  him  to  shed  for 
many  years. 

He  watched  the  ship  in  her  offing  till  a 
point  of  land  hid  her  from  his  view,  then 
threw  himself  upon  the  ground,  and  felt 
more  desolate  than  while  the  sight  of  a 
human  habitation  seemed  still  to  form  a 
connecting  link  with  the  world. 

As  he  fell,  he  felt  the  book  George  had 
placed  in  his  pocket.  He  drew  it  forth, — it 
was  as  he  had  expected,  the  word  of  God. 
"  It  is  just  what  my  poor  father  would  have 
done,"  he  exclaimed,  and  his  mind  was 
transported  to  the  green  hills  of  Vermont : 
he  saw  the  paternal  roof  and  the  village 
spire,  beneath  which  he  had  been  so  often 


THE    GOLDEN    RULE.  95 

directed  in  the  heavenward  way,  from 
which  he  had  so  fearfully  departed.  He 
saw  his  father  in  the  cool  shade  of  his 
beautiful  garden,  once  more  studying  the 
oracles  of  the  living  God,  as  he  had  seen  him 
in  the  days  of  his  childhood.  That  parent  he 
thought  must  be  now  stricken  in  years,  if 
indeed  the  perverseness  of  his  wandering 
son,  had  not  brought  down  his  grey  hairs 
with  sorrow  to  the  grave.  Then  too  came 
into  his  mind,  that  first  act  of  disobedience, 
from  which  he  might  trace  his  present  de- 
gradation. 

The  heart  of  the  hardened  villain  was 
softened,  and  for  the  first  time  since  the 
days  of  his  early  youth,  was  he  seated  to 
read  the  word  of  God.  He  was  beyond  the 
ken  of  any  mortal  eye,  but  doubtless  the 
angels  of  heaven  looked  with  pleasure  upon 
the  sight. 

The  next  morning,  the  Alnomuc  was 
lying  becalmed  on  the  side  of  the  island 
opposite  to  where  Durky  had  been  landed. 
Though  the  season  was  advanced,  it  was  a 


96  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

mild  and  pleasant  day,  and  finding  he  was 
in  the  neighborhood  of  a  colony  of  pen- 
guins, captain  Darrick  allowed  some  of  the 
men  to  go  ashore  in  search  of  eggs.  There 
were  no  eggs  to  be  had  at  that  season  of  the 
year,  but  the  men  had  their  pleasure ;  and 
George,  who  had  gone  ashore  with  them, 
strayed  aff  alone  into  the  country. 

He  was  stooping  to  collect  the  seeds  of  a 
plant,  when  lifting  his  eyes,  he  saw  Durky 
standing  before  him.  It  was  an  unpleasant 
surprise,  for  he  remembered  the  desperate 
character  of  the  man,  and  his  threats  to- 
wards himself. 

George  was  unarmed,  and  he  saw  nothing 
near  which  he  could  convert  into  a  weapon 
of  defence.  However  he  took  his  stand, 
and  lifting  his  hand  to  Durky,  said,  "  You 
are  near  enough  Durky,  do  not  come  any 
further  at  your  peril." 

"  I'll  come  no  further  than  you  say,  Mr. 
Dilloway,  but  you  need  not  fear  me,  for  I 
wouldn't  hurt  a  hair  of  your  head.  I  saw 
the  ship  this  morning  becalmed,  and  I  came 
across  the  island  to  take  a  last  look  at  her ; 


THE   GOLDEN   RULE.  97. 

and  when  I  saw  you  was  on  shore,  1  could 
but  come  to  thank  you  for  your  kindness  to 
the  poor  outcast :  if  indeed  you  will  receive 
the  thanks  of  a  wretch  who  has  long  been 
forsaken  of  his  God,  and  is  now  forsaken 
by  his  fellow  men ! "  As  he  spake,  the 
penitent  held  his  hat  in  his  hand  and  meek- 
ly bowed  his  head  in  evident  sincerity. 

"  And  do  you  indeed  feel  sorry  for  what 
you  have  done?" 

"  Ah  Sir,  when  you  put  that  blessed 
book  in  my  pocket,  at  a  time  when  I  thought 
no  one  cared  for  the  poor  reprobate,  my 
hard  heart  was  touched ;  and  I  have  looked 
into  the  sacred  pages,  the  first  time  for 
years." 

"  And  you  can  see  there  that  God  will  ac- 
cept the  penitent ! " 

"  He  will  not  receive  me,  I  forsook  him 
against  the  clearest  light,  and  He  has  for- 
saken me." 

"  But  He  will  receive  all  who  repent :  do 
you  not  remember  the  story  of  the  poor 
prodigal?" 

"  Aye — I  have  read  it  since  I've  been  on 
9 


98  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

shore :  but  I  am  worse  than  the  prodigal, 
and  I  know  God  will  not  receive  me." 

"  But  you  called  him  your  God  just 
now  !  " 

"  Aye — did  I  ?  He  was  my  father's  God, 
but  he  cannot  be  mine." 

"  The  promise  is  to  the  fathers  and  their 
children.  He  will  not  fail  to  receive  any 
who  seek  him,  for  he  desires  not  the  death 
of  a  sinner  :  and  captain  Darrick  like- 
wise, if  he  thought  you  were  really  sorry, 
would  be  glad  to  receive  you  into  the  ship 
again." 

"  Do  you  think  he  would,  Sir?  Ah,  he 
would  never  believe  it." 

"  But  you  must  forgive  others  if  you  hope 
to  be  forgiven,  and  especially,  can  you  for- 
give the  tailor?" 

"  He  has  more  to  forgive  in  me  than  I  in 
him — God  knows,  Sir,  I  feel  no  ill  will  to- 
wards him." 

"  And  for  the  future  you  will  forsake  your 
evil  habits  ?  " 

"  I  would  that  I  could,  Sir :  but  I  fear, 
they  have  been  so  long  fixed  !  " 


THE    GOLDEN    RULE.  99 

"  Well,  I  must  be  your  guarantee  :  will 
you  accept  me  as  your  security  1  Captain 
Darrick  will  not  refuse  me." 

"It  is  very  kind  in  you  to  offer,  Mr. 
Dilloway  :  how  can  I  refuse  to  accept  your 
offer.  After  my  threats  against  you,  I  had 
no  right  to  expect  it :  but  it  is  like  a  Chris- 
tian." 

"And  if  I  am  enabled  to  do  you  this 
kindness,  Durky,  I  am  only  following  the 
example  of  my  Saviour  therein,  in  doing 
for  you  as  he  has,  I  hope,  done  for  me,  and 
as  he  is  ready  to  do  for  all  others.  He  will 
intercede  with  the  God  against  whom  you 
have  sinned,  and  has  already  died  to  make 
atonement  for  you.  Why  should  you  not 
accept  him  as  your  surety  with  God,  as 
well  as  me,  for  your  security  to  captain 
Darrick.  I  hope  captain  Darrick  will  ac- 
cept my  mediation  and  forgive  you  for  my 
sake  :  and  I  know  God  will  receive  the  in- 
tercession of  his  dear  Son,  and  grant  you  a 
pardon  for  his  sake,  since  he  has  already 
shed  his  blood  to  wash  away  your  sins." 

"  Well  Mr.  Dilloway,  I  will  do  the  best 


100  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

I  can,  if  allowed  to  return  to  the  ship ;  for 
it  is  dreadful  to  be  left  on  a  desolate  coast 
at  this  season  of  the  year.  But  I  have  de- 
served it  all." 

George  now  perceived  that  the  ship's  boat 
was  ready  to  put  off,  and  he  hastened  to 
the  beach,  determined,  if  possible,  to  obtain 
the  remission  of  the  poor  man's  sentence. 
Meantime,  Durky  was  seated  on  a  rock, 
watching  his  movements  with  anxious  ex- 
pectation. 


THE  GOLDEN   RULE.  101 

CHAPTER  IX. 

THE    TEMPEST. 

As  Durky  supposed,  captain  Darrick  was 
unwilling  to  believe  his  repentance  sincere  : 
but  at  George's  earnest  request  he  consented 
to  receive  him.  Perhaps  he  did  it  the  more 
willingly,  as  he  did  not  like  to  lose  so  good 
a  seaman  from  his  ship  ;  for  roguery  apart, 
Durky  was  a  first  rate  hand.  He  said 
however,  to  his  young  friend  :  "  I'm  afraid 
Geordie,  you'll  repent  bringing  him  back. 
However  let  him  come." 

When  Durky  came  on  board  he  was 
merely  told  to  return  to  his  duty.  The 
tailor  was  just  coming  up  the  hatchway  as 
he  came  over  the  ship's  side  :  the  poor  fel- 
low turned  pale  and  would  have  fallen  back 
into  the  steerage  in  his  surprise  and  con- 
sternation, had  not  the  armourer  caught 
him.  But  though  his  former  deadly  enemy 
was  before  him,  he  needed  not  to  fear  ;  for 
9* 


102  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

that  fierce  spirit  was  now  subdued — the 
bloodthirsty  tiger  had  assumed  the  bearing 
of  the  gentle  lamb. 

Nor  was  the  appearance  mere  assumed, 
neither  was  the  reformation  only  external. 
His  haughty  heart  was  really  humbled,  and 
captain  Darrick  now  acknowledged  that  he 
was  the  very  best  hand  on  board  his  ship  ; 
for  while  he  constantly  strove  to  keep  his 
evil  propensities  in  check,  his  hardy,  fear- 
less character  remained  unchanged,  and  all 
his  energies  were  directed  to  the  perform- 
ance of  his  duty.  He  often  thanked  George 
for  providing  him  such  a  noble  seaman  : 
and  it  was  not  many  weeks  before  not  only 
the  captain  but  all  hands  had  reason  to  be 
thankful  that  the  brave  fellow  had  returned 
on  board,  and  George  had  once  more  reason 
to  see,  that  Christian  kindness  is  never 
thrown  away,  and  especially,  kindness  to 
the  souls  of  men.  He  once  more  saw  that 
the  Saviour's  golden  precept  was  the  best 
guide  of  human  actions. 

As  to  himself,  he  watched  over  the  re- 
formed sailor  with  a  sort  of  parental  feeling : 


THE    GOLDEN   RULE.  103 

and  one  of  the  most  pleasant  anticipations 
of  his  arrival  at  home,  was  the  hope  of 
earring  back  the  returning  prodigal  to  his 
father's  arms. 

For  some  weeks  after  the  incidents  last 
related,  the  Alnomuc  was  beating  about  off 
Cape  Horn:  during  this  time,  she  was 
driven  as  far  as  sixtieth  degree  of  South 
latitude. 

The  ship  had  gained  nearly  enough 
westing  to  bear  away  to  the  North,  when 
she  was  struck  by  a  heavy  westerly  gale, 
which  with  the  strong  current  setting  to  the 
eastward  in  those  latitudes,  soon  drove  her 
back  into  the  Atlantic. 

Beyond  the  Capes,  where  the  swells  of 
the  ocean  can  pass  round  and  round  the 
world,  without  meeting  any  thing  to  check 
their  still  accumulating  power,  it  may  be 
supposed  the  waves  will  heave  themselves 
to  a  most  fearful  height.  The  long  con- 
tinued westerly  gale  had  whipt  old  ocean 
into  a  rage,  and  the  swelling  mountains  of 
black  waters  covered  with  foam,  and  the 


104  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

deep  abysses  between,  their  masses  were 
enough  to  strike  terror  into  an  inexperienced 
mind.  But  the  seamen  felt  safe,  confident 
in  the  qualities  of  their  good  sea  boat,  and 
in  their  own  skill. 

But  it  was  not  so,  when  the  wind  sud- 
denly shifting  to  the  eastward,  blew  with 
equal  violence  in  the  very  teeth  of  the 
current,  raising  a  sea  in  direct  opposition 
to  the  old  one.  Now  it  was  that  the 
irregular  and  wild  heaving  of  the  waters, 
rendered  their  situation  really  dangerous ; 
for  the  ship  could  neither  scud  nor  lie 
to,  and  all  their  skill  was  unavailing  to 
prevent  her  falling  into  the  trough  of  the 
sea. 

Thus  it  was  when  about  midnight  they 
found  themselves  between  two  swells.  The 
one  to  the  eastward,  it  seemed  as  if  the 
fierce  gale  would  blow  back  upon  them, 
while  the  opposite  one  was  just  ready  to 
burst.  It  did  burst  high  above  their  heads, 
and  its  mass  of  waters  was  precipitated 
upon  the  deck.  All  now  expected  their  last 
struggle  with  death — the  weight  upon  the 


THE   GOLDEN   RULE.  ll»5 

decks  they  thought,  must  break  them  in,  or 
sink  the  vessel. 

Engulphed  in  the  dark  waters,  each  one 
clung  to  the  rigging,  and  the  good  ship  at 
last  rose  quivering  to  the  surface. 

George  kept  his  regular  watch,  hut  he 
was  now  below  and  was  awakened  by  the 
tremendous  jar.  The  ship's  timbers  shook 
convulsively,  but  the  lamp  was  still  burning 
in  the  cabin  as  when  he  turned  in.  Pres- 
ently he  saw  the  captain  enter  the  cabin, 
and  going  into  the  opposite  state  room,  kneel 
down  and  continue  some  moments  engaged 
in  earnest  prayer.  He  then  found  some 
articles  he  came  in  search  of,  and  was  about 
returning  to  the  deck,  when  George  said  : 
"  Has  any  thing  happened,  captain  Dar- 
rick  ?  " 

"  Only  been  struck  by  a  sea,  George, 
the  old  ship  won't  stand  another  such  blow. 
Lay  still,  my  boy,  you  can  do  no  good 
upon  deck,  and  you're  better  off  here." 
But  George  Dilloway  had  already  left  his 
berth,  and  was  resolved  to  follow  his  friend 
to  the  deck;  there  he  beheld  such  a  tu- 


106  ALNOMUC  :  OR 

mult  of  waters  as  he  had  never  before  wit- 
nessed. 

"  This  is  a  grand  sight,  Darrick,"  he 
said. 

"  Aye  it  is  fearfully  grand,  George :  and 
it  would  be  pleasant  to  look  at,  could  we 
but  look  in  safety." 

"  But  He  who  holds  the  waters  in  the 
hollow  of  his  hand,  rules  them  here  as  well 
as  in  the  calm." 

"  I  have  found  pleasure  in  thinking  so 
to-night.  Surely  it  is  pleasant  to  be  able  to 
trust  in  God,  when  we  feel  we  can  do  so 
little  for  ourselves.  However  we  must  try 
to  get  the  ship  before  the  wind :  but  how 
she  will  work  against  such  a  sea,  God  only 
knows.  Mr.  Barnacle, — we'll  see  how  our 
storm  sails  will  stand  it — you  may  hoist  the 
fore  topmast  staysail,  and  haul  your  sheet 
to  starboard.  There — hard  up  with  your 
helm  boys." 

The  sail  soon  caught  the  gale,  and  the 
ship  shot  ahead.  As  she  sunk  between  the 
waves  she  was  becalmed,  but  as  she  rose 
to  the  top  of  them  she  felt  the  full  influence 


THE    GOLDEN   RULE.  107 

of  the  tempest,  and  shot  boldly  ahead.  By 
skillful  steering,  the  opposing  seas  were 
avoided  for  a  while,  but  at  last  she  plunged 
headlong  into  one.  For  a  moment  the  flood 
passed  over  the  deck,  and  when  she  was 
again  clear,  it  was  perceived  that  her  fore 
topmast  stay  had  been  carried  away. 

Durky  was  already  in  the  rigging  with 
one  end  of  a  preventer  stay  :  "  Lay  down, 
lay  down,"  exclaimed  captain  Darrick. 
"  Stand  clear  of  the  mast."  The  lanyard 
of  the  forward  shroud  of  the  topmast  rigging 
had  already  parted,  the  other  lanyards  soon 
gave  way,  passed  like  lightning  through  the 
dead  eyes,  and  were  whipt  out  with  their 
strands  separated — the  topmast  nodded  to- 
wards the  stern — broke  off  with  a  crash 
above  the  cap,  and  fell,  to  port. 

"  Clear  the  wreck,"  exclaimed  captain 
Darrick.  The  topmast  backstays  had 
been  thrown  round  the  lower  rigging  and 
forward  of  the  foremast  when  the  topmast 
fell,  and  they  now  kept  the  head  of  the 
broken  spar  in  towards  the  vessel,  while 
the  splintered  end  dashed  about  by  the 


108  ALNOMUC :    OR 

heaving  of  the  ocean,  seemed  to  threaten 
with  instant  destruction  any  who  should 
attempt  to  obey  the  command  to  cut  it  clear, 
while  the  repeated  and  tremendous  thumps 
against  the  ship's  bottom,  made  the  danger 
equal  to  all  if  this  was  not  done.  "  Hand 
us  your  hatchet,  carpenter,"  said  the  cap- 
tain :  in  a  moment  with  the  hatchet  in  his 
hand,  he  sprang  forward  to  cut  away  the 
foul  rigging.  "  That's  work  for  me,  captain 
Darrick,"  exclaimed  Durky,  and  snatching 
the  hatchet  from  the  captain,  he  leapt  upon 
the  rail.  A  single  blow  severed  one  of  the 
backstays ;  but  he  had  no  time  to  repeat 
it :  a  heavy  sea  at  that  moment  burst  over 
the  bows — Durky  clung  to  the  rigging 
while  the  officers  and  crew,  who  had  been 
keeping  off  the  spar  as  well  as  they  could 
with  oars  and  handspikes,  were  washed  aft 
with  the  sea. 

The  waters  passed,  and  Durky  was  still 
seen  in  the  forward  rigging  with  his  hand 
upraised.  The  hatchet  fell  and  severed  the 
only  remaining  starboard  backstay.  The 
brave  fellow  then  leapt  into  the  larboard 


THE    GOLDEN    RULE.  109 

channels  to  cut  them  away  on  that  side. 
This  was  soon  done ;  but  now,  the  spar 
which  had  shot  into  the  air  after  the  break- 
ing of  the  wave,  came  down  against  the 
chains  where  Durky  was  standing,  and  the 
man  and  the  mast  disappeared. 

The  cry,  "A  man  overboard,"  drew  all 
hands  into  the  larboard  gangway  :  they 
looked  anxiously  over  into  the  dark  waters 
to  get  a  glimpse  of  their  lost  shipmate,  but 
the  ship  had  made  a  heavy  lurch,  and 
nothing  could  have  been  seen,  even  had  the 
night  permitted  it.  The  situation  of  the 
spar  was  made  visible  astern,  by  a  white 
spot  caused  by  the  breaking  of  the  water 
upon  it,  and  all  believed  that  that  bright 
spot  marked  their  shipmate's  grave,  and 
though  the  life  blood  was  still  coursing 
through  his  veins,  he  would  soon  be  a  cold 
and  stiffened  corpse. 

They  looked  mournfully  a  moment,  then 
hastened  to  get  some  sail  upon  the  vessel. 
It  was  found  that  the  fore  topmast  stay- 
sail was  still  hanging  from  the  end  of  the 
bowsprit — the  stay  on  which  it  was  hoisted 
10 


110  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

being  carried  away  pretty  high  up,  was 
dragging  in  the  water.  It  was  determined 
to  secure  this  to  the  foremast  head,  and  set 
the  staysail  again;  for  the  ship  could  not 
be  kept  before  the  wind,  without  some  head 
sail  to  help  her  steer. 

There  was  not  a  little  danger  in  working 
at  the  end  of  the  bowsprit,  plunged  as  it 
was  every  few  moments  under  the  waves  : 
but  there  were  brave  hearts  on  board  the 
Alnomuc,  who  were  not  in  the  habit  of 
calculating  danger.  The  sail  was  dragged 
up  and  stowed  in  the  netting,  till  the  stay 
could  be  got  ready,  and  the  jibboom  was 
run  in  and  housed  that  it  might  not  be  car- 
ried away  by  the  pitching  of  the  vessel : 
but  at  this  stage  of  their  operations,  the 
crew  were  all  frightened  from  their  work. 
Yet  it  must  be  no  earthly  sound,  that  could 
frighten  those  brave  hearts. 

The  wind  howled  over  the  vessel,  and 
loudly  shrieked  through  the  blocks  :  but 
above  the  roaring  of  the  tempest  was  heard 
a  more  fearful  noise  :  it  was  a  voice  speak- 
ing to  the  men ;  appalled  and  disconcerted, 


THE    GOLDEN    RULE.  Ill 

they  hastened  to  the  forecastle,  for  it  was 
the  voice  of  Durky  they  heard,  and  it  seem- 
ed to  come  from  the  fore  top.  "  The  time 
has  come  for  one  of  us,"  said  one  of  the 
men. 

"  For  all  of  us,"  said  another.  "It's  no 
use  to  do  nothing  more,  when  we've  heard 
the  dead  man's  voice." 

Even  captain  Darrick,  early  imbued  with 
the  superstition  of  seafaring  men,  was  en- 
tirely disconcerted :  but  George  Dilloway, 
immediately  guessed  at  what  had  happened, 
that  Durky  had  caught  at  the  mizen  chains 
as  the  ship  passed  him.  and  had  thus  found 
his  way  on  board.  He  had  sat  in  the 
channels  a  moment,  till  the  effects  of  the 
blow  he  had  received  passed  away,  and  had 
then  got  on  board  without  any  one  per- 
ceiving him ;  and  finding  what  the  crew 
were  engaged  in,  he  had  gone  into  the  fore- 
top  to  assist. 

George  hastened  to  bend  the  stay  to  the 
end  of  a  studdingsail  tack,  which  Durky 
had  thrown  down.  Bob  Ringtail  finding  it 
was  real  flesh  and  blood  in  the  top,  was 


112  ALNOMUC  I    OR 

somewhat  mortified  at  the  fear  he  had 
shown,  and  taking  a  watch  tackle  on  his 
shoulder,  began  to  ascend  the  rigging  to  as- 
sist in  securing  the  stay,  observing  that,  "  a 
fellow  who  was  born  to  be  hanged  could 
never  be  drowned." 

When  daylight  appeared,  which  was  not 
till  eight  o'clock  in  that  latitude,  the  ship  was 
driving  before  the  wind  under  a  close  reefed 
main  topsail  and  fore  staysail.  Though 
it  still  blew  fiercely,  the  breeze  was  fair : 
by  degrees,  the  sea  became  more  regular, 
and  the  favorable  gale  left  them  not,  till  they 
were  ready  to  bear  away  to  the  North  in 
the  Pacific  Ocean. 


THE    GOLDEN   RULE.  113 

CHAPTER  X. 

THE   INDIAN. 

"  COLD  comfort  this,"  said  captain  Dar- 
rick,  as  he  sat  at  the  breakfast  table  the 
morning  after  the  accident  detailed  in  the 
last  chapter.  The  sea  was  so  rough,  that 
the  cook  could  light  no  fire  ;  consequently, 
the  breakfast  was  not  cooked  that  morning. 

"  Well  Darrick,"  said  George  Dilloway, 
"  if  the  food  is  cold,  we  may  be  thankful 
for  good  appetites  to  eat  it,  and  that  will 
make  it  sweet." 

"  Aye  Geordie,  we  may  be  thankful  that 
we  are  here  at  all.  That  Durky  was  made 
for  a  noble  fellow ;  and  I'll  try  to  do  some- 
thing for  him  before  the  voyage  is  out,  if  he 
behaves  himself." 

"  You  see  Darrick,  I'm  not  sorry  yet  for 
persuading  you  to  take  him  on  board?  " 

"  And  you  never  will  be.     You  acted 
like  a  Christian,  and  I'm  sure  no  one  will 
ever  lose,  by  doing  that." 
10* 


114  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

"  I  did  what  no  one  who  pretends  to  be 
governed  by  Christian  principles  could  con- 
sistently avoid  doing.  I  saw  his  proud 
spirit  was  humbled,  believed  him  truly 
penitent :  could  I  help  forgiving  him,  and 
yet  hope  to  be  forgiven  !  Could  I  refuse  to 
intercede  for  him,  and  expect  my  Saviour 
to  intercede  for  me  !  " 

Captain  Darrick  had  began  to  take  some 
interest  in  religion — he  had  become  regular 
in  reading  the  Scriptures  and  in  his  devo- 
tional exercises — had  set  himself  to  break 
off  his  evil  habits,  and  earnestly  sought 
God's  help  to  enable  him  to  do  so.  And 
yet,  he  often  found  himself  involved  in  feel- 
ings and  actions  which  his  conscience  dis- 
approved. He  looked  much  to  his  friend 
George  for  advice  and  encouragement,  and 
often  did  these  two  take  sweet  counsel  to- 
gether. 

George  Dilloway  had  taken  God's  word 
for  the  rule  of  his  life ;  and  when  he  found 
himself  cut  off  from  other  means  of  grace, 
he  had  become  more  diligent  in  studying  it : 


THE    GOLDEN   RULE.  115 

he  had  become  much  more  decided  in  his 
religious  character,  since  he  found  himself 
alone,  dependent  only  upon  his  God.  But 
in  general,  a  Christian  experiences  only 
harm  in  cutting  himself  off  from  the  means 
of  grace,  unless  indeed  he  has  done  it  to 
carry  them  to  the  destitute.  Then,  if  he 
goes  forth  in  the  strength  of  his  God,  that 
God  will  be  with  him  and  bless  him  who 
would  be  a  blessing  to  others. 

George  read  in  his  Bible  his  Saviour's 
command  to  his  disciples  to  convert  the 
world,  and  remembered  his  shipmates.  He 
thought  too,  that  if  he  himself  had  been  in 
the  broad  road  to  destruction,  how  thank- 
ful he  should  be  to  any  one,  who  would 
direct  his  steps  into  the  way  of  life  ;  and  he 
resolved,  to  do  as  he  would  be  done  by. 
Often  did  the  approving  eye  of  his  Heaven- 
ly Father  rest  upon  him  in  the  silent 
watches  of  the  night,  while  seated  by  the 
side  of  the  homeless  sailor :  and  oftener 
still,  did  he  urge  upon  his  friend  Darrick 
the  importance  of  securing  an  Heavenly  in- 
heritance ;  and  with  neither  were  his  labors 
without  effect. 


116  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

As  they  approached  the  places  where 
they  were  to  begin  their  traffic  with  the 
natives,  the  two  friends  felt  they  were  draw- 
ing nigh  a  scene  of  trial ;  and  both  sought 
help,  that  their  intercourse  with  the  savages 
might  be  throughout,  such  as  became  Chris- 
tian men. 

Some  weeks  had  elapsed  since  they 
passed  the  Cape,  and  they  were  becalmed 
one  day  under  a  small  island.  Several 
natives  were  seen,  along  the  shore,  where  a 
heavy  surf  was  beating  upon  the  rocks. 
Two  of  the  Indians  soon  entered  the  surf, 
and  in  about  half  an  hour,  made  their  ap- 
pearance alongside. 

They  were  the  first  naked  savages 
George  had  seen ;  and  they  caused  in  him  a 
very  unpleasant  sensation,  especially,  as 
one  of  them  was  a  woman.  He  immedi- 
ately brought  out  one  of  his  own  shirts,  and 
directed  her  to  the  cabin  to  put  it  on. 

The  Wyheenee,  (woman,)  shew  much 
readiness  in  appropriating  the  garment  to 
her  own  use,  thursting  her  lower  members 


THE   GOLDEN   RULE.  117 

into  the  sleeves  thereof;  then  tying  the 
flaps  over  her  shoulders,  she  soon  made  her 
appearance  upon  deck,  proudly  strutting 
about  with  the  nicely  plaited  frill  flowing 
before  her. 

The  crew  were  much  amused  at  her  ap- 
pearance, and  captain  Darrick  told  his 
friend,  that  his  wardrobe  would  not  hold 
out  long,  if  he  undertook  to  clothe  all  the 
naked  savages  he  should  meet  with.  As 
to  himself,  he  had  been  so  much  accustom- 
ed in  his  former  voyages  to  see  Indians  in 
a  state  of  nature,  that  he  did  not  think  of 
it :  and  George  himself,  soon  became  ac- 
customed to  the  sight ;  but  he  could  never 
cease  to  pity  them,  and  to  wish  that  Chris- 
tians would  make  more  efforts,  to  civilize 
their  habits  and  to  Christianize  their  souls. 

The  two  Indians  had  brought  off,  each  a 
bunch  of  cocoanuts  to  dispose  of.  George 
had  seen  the  fruit  as  they  are  brought  singly 
from  the  West  Indies  :  but  never  before  had 
he  seen  the  nuts  as  they  grow  together,  like 
a  bunch  of  huge  grapes.  He  was  amused 


118  ALNOMtJC:    OR 

at  the  facility  with  which  the  Indian  strip- 
ped off  the  outer  bark :  when  that  was  done, 
he  struck  the  small  end  against  the  edge  of 
the  anchor's  fluke,  and  a  round  piece  scaled 
off  about  two  inches  in  diameter,  leaving  a 
handy  drinking  cup  filled  with  a  sparkling 
liquor. 

George  was  delighted  with  the  lively 
juice  of  the  young  nut,  with  the  refreshing 
qualities  of  which,  none  can  be  acquainted 
who  have  only  seen  the  imported  fruit.  As 
used  in  the  countries  where  it  grows,  before 
the  meat  has  been  formed,  or  when  it  is 
only  of  a  creamy  consistency,  the  juice  is  of 
a  lively  sparkling  quality,  and  a  delightful 
beverage  in  a  hot  climate. 

It  may  be  supposed  the  natives  found  a 
ready  sale  for  their  merchandize  :  but  the 
man  could  not  obtain  the  article  he  was 
"chiefly  in  quest  of.  He  was  a  Tahitian, 
and  had  been  left  at  this  island,  some  hun- 
dred miles  from  his  home,  by  a  British  ship. 
He  had  learned  a  little  broken  English,  and 
also  some  English  vices  ;  among  these  was 
the  habit  of  chewing,  and  he  was  now  very 
eager  for  some  tobacco. 


THE    GOLDEN    RULE.  119 

Now  it  so  happened,  that  this  was  an 
article  in  great  demand  on  board  the  Alno- 
muc,  the  store  of  this  precious  commodity 
being  almost  exhausted.  The  sailors  had 
become  very  economical  in  their  use  of  this 
luxury,  in  which  they  all  delighted  :  and 
each  one  carefully  laid  by  his  "  old  sol- 
diers," to  be  re-chewed.  Some  indeed  had 
entirely  exhausted  their  stock,  and  it  was 
not  uncommon  for  them,  occasionally,  to 
borrow  a  soldier  from  their  more  fortunate 
shipmates ;  and  when  they  had  enjoyed  it 
for  a  while,  it  was  punctually  returned,  to 
be  chewed  again  by  the  rightful  owner. 

When  the  Indian  found  he  could  neither 
buy,  beg,  nor  borrow,  a  single  particle  of 
the  pernicious  weed  he  had  learned  to  love, 
he  resolved  to  steal  some  if  he  could.  Now 
Bob  Ringtail  was  in  the  habit  of  storing  his 
"  old  soldiers,"  for  safe  keeping,  in  one  of 
the  holes  of  the  windlass  on  the  starboard 
side.  The  Indian  saw  Bob  make  a  deposit 
in  this  place,  and  scarce  had  the  latter  turn- 
ed his  back,  when  the  Indian  seized  upon 
the  treasure  and  clapped  it  into  his  own 


120  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

jl 

mouth.  Bob  immediately  discovered  the 
theft,  which,  when  the  other  perceived, 
he  leapt  over  the  ship's  side  into  the  water. 
Bob  seized  a  boat  hook  and  jumped  into  the 
chains  ;  as  the  Indian  rose,  he  hooked  upon 
him,  and  with  the  assistance  of  his  ship- 
mates drew  him  on  board. 

All  agreed  that  for  such  an  offence  he 
ought  to  be  punished ;  and  Bob  soon  had 
him  tied  up  by  his  two  thumbs,  and  was 
about  to  inflict  summary  justice,  when 
George,  Dilloway  happened  to  come  for- 
ward :  "  Hilloa  Bob,"  he  said,  "  what's  to 
pay  now  ?  " 

"  Why  Sir,  this  'ere  chap's  bin  stealing 
my  backey  :  and  I's  agoing  to  give  him  a 
taste  of  a  tarred  eend  for  it.  May  be  he'll 
find  it  some  harder  to  chaw,  than  an  old 
soldier  ! " 

"  But  you  an't  going  to  flog  the  poor  fel- 
low for  taking  a  bit  of  tobacco  ?  " 

"  To  be  sure  I  be  Sir;  backey 's  backey 
now  you  know." 

This  was  a  proposition  which  could  not 
be  denied ;  so  Bob  continued  : 


THE    GOLDEN    RULE.  121 

"  There's  but  little  in  the  ship  Sir,  and 
soon  there'll  be  none,  and  then  I  don't  know 
what  we'll  do.  If  the  fellow  had  carried  off 
my  dinner,  or  stolen  my  jacket,  I  shouldn't 
ha'  cared  :  a  man  can  do  on  a  pinch  with- 
out his  dinner,  and  git  along  well  enough 
without  a  jacket  in  sich  a  climate  as  this, 
but  how  he's  to  git  on  without  backey,  is 
more  as  I  can  tell." 

The  Indian  finding  George  was  disposed 
to  take  his  part,  begged  hard  with  him  in 
his  broken  English  to  get  him  clear,  and 
George  resolved  if  possible  that  he  would  : 
so  he  told  Bob  Ringtail  if  he'd  let  the  poor 
fellow  go,  he'd  give  him  some  tobacco. 

George  remembered  that  in  the  bottom  of 
one  of  his  trunks,  was  a  quantity  of  this 
dirty  luxury,  which  he  himself  detested  in 
every  form.  His  father  had  placed  it  there, 
that  he  might  be  enabled  to  make  a  present 
to  the  sailors,  when  .their  own  store  should 
be  exhausted.  George  now  thought  a  few 
heads  were  well  bestowed,  in  saving  the 
poor  Indian  from  his  threatened  punishment. 
Bob  was  satisfied,  and  felt  even  rich  in  his 
11 


122  ALNOMUC  :  OE 

new  acquisition  :  he  now  very  readily 
released  his  prisoner,  who  immediately, 
when  he  found  himself  at  liberty,  dove 
into  the  water  and  was  soon  on  his  way  to 
the  shore. 

The  next  morning  the  ship  was  lying  in 
a  tolerably  good  roadstead,  some  miles  from 
the  spot  where  she  had  been  becalmed. 
Here,  captain  Darrick  had  brought  his  ves- 
sel to,  in  order  to  obtain  some  refreshments 
for  the  ship's  company,  after  their  long  pas- 
sage. A  number  of  canoes  were  alongside 
with  various  articles  to  dispose  of :  some 
had  a  hog  or  two,  to  barter  for  the  much 
coveted  articles  on  board  the  ship — for  a  few 
nails,  or  bits  of  iron  hoop,  or  Dutch  looking 
glasses  or  beads.  Some  had  a  few  fowls — 
others  cocoanuts  or  yams  :  others  again  had 
fish,  and  one  canoe  there  was,  in  which 
were  a  couple  of  large  bunches  of  fine  ripe 
banannas. 

This  fruit  is  of  an  oblong  form  and  about 
six  inches  in  length,  and  being  of  a  fine 
golden  color,  and  several  hundreds  growing 


THE    GOLDEN    RULE.  123 

together  around  a  single  stem,  the  bunches 
have  a  very  rich  appearance.  They  are  a 
very  luscious,  and  also  a  very  healthy  fruit. 

There  were  three  Indians  in  the  canoe, 
and  captain  Darrick  sought  in  vain  to  pur- 
chase their  commodity:  nothing  that  he 
thought  proper  to  offer,  would  be  received 
as  an  equivalent  till  George  Dilloway  came 
on  deck.  One  of  the  Indians  then  came 
forward,  and  presented  him  with  the  fruit. 

It  was  the  same  young  Tahitian  who  had 
stolen  the  tobacco.  He  wished  much  to  re- 
turn to  his  own  country  :  and  in  his  broken 
English,  he  expressed  his  desire  to  George 
to  be  received  as  a  sailor  on  board  the  ship, 
in  the  hope  that  she  would  touch  there  in 
the  course  of  her  voyage.  The  natives  of 
the  South  Sea  islands,  are  very  handy  on 
board  a  ship  in  doing  the  light  work  :  cap- 
tain Darrick  had  intended  to  take  two  or 
three  in  his  vessel,  to  reinforce  his  crew  be- 
fore going  upon  the  Northwest  coast.  He 
therefore  very  readily  acceded  to  the  wishes 
of  the  Tahitian. 

Wass,  for  that  was  the  name  by  which 


124  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

the  new  comer  called  himself,  had  brought 
off  his  wardrobe  with  him.  It  consisted  of 
the  fragment  of  a  shirt,  and  a  pair  of  ragged 
canvass  trowsers,  which  he  had  carried 
from  the  ship  he  before  had  sailed  in.  Being 
received  into  the  ship's  company,  he  quickly 
displaced  the  native  waistcloth  which  before 
had  been  his  only  garment,  and  having  put 
on  his  sailor  habiliments,  he  strutted  about 
with  much  apparent  satisfaction  among  his 
half  naked,  quondam  associates,  evidently 
feeling  himself  much  their  superior. 

Wass  proved  himself  very  handy  on 
board  the  vessel.  He  was  fond  of  assisting 
George,  arid  the  latter  often  employed  him 
when  he  was  not  engaged  in  ship's  duty  ; 
for  he  found  he  could  work  very  neatly,  and 
was  overpaid  by  any  trifle  George  had  a 
mind  to  give  him. 


THE    GOLDEN    RULE.  125 

CHAPTER  XL 

THE    CONSPIRACY. 

WEEKS  and  months  passed  away,  and 
the  Alnomuc  had  travelled  thousands  of 
miles  of  the  dark  blue  ocean  in  the  prose- 
cution of  her  voyage.  We  now  find  her, 
in  an  harbor  on  the  Northwest  coast  of 
America. 

She  had  touched  at  several  islands  of  the 
Pacific  on  her  way,  and  captain  Darrick 
had  taken  on  board  a  number  of  the  natives 
to  assist  in  ship's  duty,  as  also  to  help  in 
defending  the  vessel,  during  the  more  dan- 
gerous part  of  the  voyage  on  which  he  had 
entered  :  for  the  Indians  on  the  Northwest 
coast,  are  far  more  savage  in  their  disposi- 
tions, and  less  to  be  trusted  than  those  at  the 
islands. 

Among  these  fresh  hands  however,  none 
proved  more  intelligent  and  trustworthy, 
than  Wass,  the  Tahitian.  At  the  sugges- 
tion of  the  supercargo,  captain  Darrick  took 
11* 


126  ALNOMUC  I    OR 

him  into  the  cabin  as  assistant  steward  : 
he  was  chiefly  employed  in  helping  George 
to  arrange  his  articles  of  trade,  in  which 
business  he  could  make  himself  very  useful, 
having  before  been  upon  the  coast,  and 
having  some  knowledge  of  the  languages 
spoken  there. 

Captain  Darrick  had  received  strict  orders 
from  his  owners,  with  regard  to  his  inter- 
course with  the  natives.  He  was  to  keep 
his  boarding  nettings  always  hoisted  while 
in  harbor  on  the  coast,  and  never  to  permit 
any  Indians  to  come  on  board  till  he  had 
ascertained  their  disposition.  When  he  did 
allow  any  to  enter  the  ship,  it  was  to  be  in 
small  numbers,  and  he  was  always  to  keep 
a  portion  of  his  crew  armed.  Accordingly 
on  the  passage  out,  the  seamen  had  been  em- 
ployed in  making  the  nets  ;  and  as  they  ap- 
proached the  coast  they  were  got  up  and 
secured  to  the  quarter  railing  all  round  the 
ship. 

"  This  is  all  nonsense,"  said  captain  Dar- 
rick, when  he  saw  his  arrangement  com- 


THE   GOLDEN   RULE.  127 

pleted :  "  no  one  that  had  been  on  the  coast, 
would  ever  give  such  orders." 

"  Well,  well  Dick,"  replied  George  Dil- 
loway,  "it's  best  to  be  on  the  safe  side,  and 
at  any  rate  to  obey  orders." 

"  They  say  you  must  obey  orders,  if  you 
break  owners  :  but  as  to  safety,  I  should  be 
sorry  if  I  couldn't  keep  my  ship,  with  the 
crew  I've  got,  against  all  the  Indians  upon 
the  coast." 

"  And  yet  many  a  ship  has  been  taken 
there,  and  many  a  brave  fellow  cut  off,  by 
these  same  savages  you  despise  so  much  !  " 

"  But  no  ship  ever  ought  to  be  cut  off, 
and  never  would  be,  if  she  was  managed 
right." 

"  That  is,  if  proper  precautions  were 
taken." 

"  Yes,  proper  precautions." 

Soon  after  this  conversation  the  Alnomuc 
was  at  anchor  among  a  group  of  islands  off 
the  coast ;  they  appeared  like  a  parcel  of 
specks,  scattered  over  the  face  of  the  water 
both  landward  and  seaward,  while  the 
misty  outline  of  a  range  of  lofty  mountains 


128  ALNOMOC  !    OR 

in  the  distance,  marked  the  course  of  the 
main  land.  The  good  ship  was  completely 
locked  in  by  the  islands,  so  that  the  water 
in  which  she  lay,  was  as  smooth  as  a  mill 
pond.  She  was  surrounded  by  numerous 
Indian  canoes,  the  natives  in  which,  looked 
up  with  astonishment  at  the  lofty  boarding 
nets,  which  forbade  all  ingress  to  the  vessel. 

They  had  been  accustomed  to  go  freely 
on  board  such  ships,  as  came  among  them 
for  purposes  of  trade ;  for  though  these 
were  always  provided  with  boarding  nets, 
they  were  seldom  used. 

Captain  Darrick  and  the  supercargo, 
found  that  the  practice  of  excluding  the 
natives  interfered  much  with  their  trade, 
and  the  business  of  the  voyage  went  on  but 
slowly.  The  pride  of  the  former  too,  was 
much  hurt  in  adopting  what  he  thought 
pusillanimous  measures  :  even  the  Indians 
as  they  stood  in  their  canoes  at  a  distance, 
to  barter  their  skins,  laughed  at  them  for 
their  caution,  calling  them  cowards  and 
women. 

George  Dilloway  cared  not  for  their  re- 


m  "V 


THE    GOLDEN    RULE.  129 

marks,  and  he  persuaded  his  friend  to  dis- 
regard them  :  but  he  found  the  interests  of 
the  voyage  would  suffer  from  the  course  he 
was  pursuing.  Moreover,  he  was  satisfied 
the  natives  were  but  children  in  intellect 
and  in  courage,  and  that  a  few  resolute 
white  men,  well  armed,  need  not  fear  their 
numbers,  however  great :  he  was  therefore 
in  favor  of  admitting  them  on  board  the 
vessel. 

It  was  true  they  were  children,  hi  most 
intellectual  and  moral  attainments ;  but  their 
very  want  of  courage,  inspired  them  with  a 
degree  of  cunning,  that  made  them  most 
fearful  enemies ;  and  in  their  spirit  of  re- 
venge, they  were  real  fiends. 

George  was  in  a  measure  aware  of  these 
traits  of  their  character :  but  he  also  be- 
lieved them  to  be  a  well  disposed  people, 
and  that  when  well  treated,  there  was  little 
danger  to  be  apprehended  from  them.  In 
this  he  was  right,  and  he  would  have  been 
safe  from  any  attempt  on  their  part,  had  no 
others  of  his  countrymen  had  intercourse 
with  them.  From  neglecting  to  take  this 


130 


ALNOMUC  :    OR 


into  the  calculation,  many  ships  have  been 
cut  off  in  visiting  savage  nations. 

As  it  is  with  civilized  nations,  so  also  it 
is  with  those  they  call  savages  :  when  an 
individual  does  an  injury,  it  is  visited  upon 
such  of  his  countrymen  as  circumstances 
expose  to  the  fury  of  the  injured  party.  In 
both  cases,  it  is  almost  always  the  innocent 
who  suffer,  while  the  guilty  escape :  so 
much  for  the  justice  of  all  wars,  whether 
savage  or  civilized. 

With  regard  to  the  Indians  on  the  North- 
west coast  of  America,  they  who  injure 
them  can  seldom  be  made  the  objects  of 
their  vengeance.  These  of  course,  take 
good  care  to  guard  against  surprise,  and  are 
in  general  too  strong  and  too  well  armed  to 
be  injured  by  open  force,  even  had  the  In- 
dian the  courage  to  attempt  it.  Their  float- 
ing castles  too,  soon  carry  them  beyond  the 
reach  of  danger. 

The  injury  then,  must  be  visited  on  the 
first  innocent  countryman  of  the  aggressor, 
who  unconsciously,  exposes  himself  to  the 
fury  of  the  injured  party,  or  the  savage 


THE    GOLDEN   RULE.  131 

must  forego  his  revenge.  This  no  man 
whether  savage  or  civilized,  will  willingly 
do,  while  the  human  heart  remains  what  it 
is  ;  for  revenge  is  sweet  to  the  natural  heart. 
But  when  the  feelings  and  affections  be- 
come sanctified  by  divine  grace,  that  heart 
will  be  changed.  This  is  the  only  means, 
by  which  peace  can  be  restored  to  the 
earth  :  the  friends  of  peace,  will  find  every 
effort  vain,  except  as  it  is  directed  to  the  ex- 
tension of  the  Gospel  of  peace. 

When  the  Indians  were  first  admitted  on 
board  the  Alnomuc,  the  crew  were  kept 
armed  and  at  their  quarters  while  any 
number  of  them  were  on  board.  This  cap- 
tain Darrick  did,  rather  with  a  view  to  his 
instructions  and  to  satisfy  his  friend  George, 
than  from  any  feeling  of  insecurity.  The 
ship  visited  many  places  on  the  coast,  and 
had  prospered  in  her  trade :  for  the  Indians, 
accustomed  to  be  imposed  upon  by  the 
traders  in  every  possible  way,  when  they 
found  there  was  a  disposition  to  treat  them 
fairly,  were  very  eager  in  bringing  their  furs 


132  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

on  board  the  Alnomuc.  They  appeared  to 
be  harmless  and  inoffensive,  and  as  famili- 
arity generally  generates  carelessness,  so  it 
was  on  board  the  vessel :  the  officers  by  de- 
grees, began  to  call  the  men  off  to  the  per- 
formance of  ship's  duty,  till  at  last,  no  guard 
was  left  while  the  Indians  were  allowed  to 
crowd  the  deck,  and  no  one  dreamed  of 
danger. 

Thus  it  was  when  the  ship  arrived  at 
Nookatuc  Bay.  Now  the  Nookatuc  In- 
dians, were  known  to  be  a  very  formidable 
tribe — cunning,  savage  and  implacable,  and 
very  bloody  in  their  revenge.  They  now 
appeared  very  friendly,  flocking  to  the  ship 
with  great  quantities  of  very  fine  furs,  and 
a  brisk  trade  was  carried  on. 

Wass  however  soon  discovered  that  some- 
thing was  going  wrong,  and  took  every 
opportunity  to  listen  to  t'heir  talks.  He 
found  they  had  been  injured,  and  were  me- 
ditating revenge.  He  told  the  supercargo 
what  he  had  heard,  who  communicated  it 
to  the  captain.  The  Tahitian  had  once 
before  reported  a  conspiracy  among  the  In- 


THE   GOLDEN   RULE.  133 

dians,  but  it  did  not  end  in  any  thing  :  so 
captain  Darrick  paid  little  attention  to  what 
he  said  now.  He  did  not  consider  that  the 
danger  had  before,  probably,  been  averted 
by  the  preparations  to  meet  it. 

One  day,  Wass  observed  that  none  of  their 
women  accompanied  the  Indians  on  board, 
and  that  each  one  of  the  latter  had  a  blank- 
et over  his  shoulders.  "  Dem  feller  make 
fight  to-day,  Massa  Dilloway,"  he  said, 
"  all,  eb'ry  one,  hab  dagger  under  blanket." 
George  pointed  out  these  circumstances  to 
the  captain  :  but  captain  Darrick  was  stub- 
born, and  like  most  men  of  his  class,  fool- 
hardy, and  ashamed  to  take  precautions 
against  a  foe  he  despised.  Nevertheless, 
he  took  care  to  see  that  his  arms  were  in 
good  order  and  at  hand,  and  allowed 
George  to  place  a  guard  of  the  idlers  in  the 
main  top,  where  was  an  arm  chest  well 
stored  with  blunderbusses.  George's  guard, 
consisted  of  Wass  and  two  or  three  Sand- 
wich Islanders  under  the  command  of  Land 
Crab,  the  tailor.  The  rest  of  the  crew  were 
busy  in  the  hold,  and  George  himself  when 
12 


134  ALNOMUC:  OR 

he  had  posted  the  guard,  was  imprudent 
enough  to  allow  himself  to  be  absorbed  in 
trade,  and  forgot  all  about  the  conspiracy. 

Business  was  very  brisk ;  and  in  the 
course  of  it,  Captain  Darrick  had  occasion 
to  go  to  the  cabin  for  some  article  of  trade. 
He  observed,  that  two  of  the  stoutest  chiefs 
followed  him  :  this  was  no  unusual  thing, 
but  he  determined  to  keep  an  eye  on  them. 
They  stopped  at  the  cabin  door,  and  he  saw 
they  were  holding  communication  with 
some  one  at  the  gangway.  He  cast  his 
eye  into  his  berth  to  ascertain  that  his 
pistols  were  handy,  then  stooped  to  open  his 
chest. 

He  first  opened  a  Dutch  looking  glass, 
that  he  might  watch  his  customers.  He 
had  no  sooner  laid  it  before  him,  than  a  ray 
of  light  was  reflected  from  its  surface:  it 
was  a  sunbeam  on  the  point  of  a  dagger  al- 
ready raised  for  his  destruction.  Darrick 
sprang  for  his  pistols  and  turned  upon  his 
foes.  They  were  already  within  striking 
distance,  but  his  finger  was  on  the  trigger, — 
the  flash — the  report — the  fierce  death 


THE   GOLDEN   RULE.  135 

bound  of  his  assailants,  and  their  unearthly 
dying  shriek  were  almost  simultaneous. 
The  one  struck  his  head  on  the  ceiling  of 
the  cabin  and  fell  where  he  was — the  other 
pitched  upon  the  open  chest,  in  the  death 
agony,  striking  his  weapon  deep  among  its 
contents. 

The  chief  at  the  gangway  had  given  the 
the  signal,  which  was  obeyed  in  the  cabin 
and  on  deck  at  the  same  moment :  every 
blanket  was  dropped,  every  dagger  un- 
sheathed. George  was  carelessly  looking 
over  the  side  into  a  canoe,  when  a  long 
drawn  shrill  "  Aigh,"  from  his  guard  in  the 
top  drew  his  attention.  He  turned  hastily 
— there  was  a  dagger  already  gleaming 
above  him  in  the  hand  of  a  naked  savage. 
George's  right  hand  was  instantly  on  the 
throat  of  the  Indian,  while  his  left  seized  the 
arm  that  lifted  the  weapon.  There  were 
scores  of  naked  daggers  about  him  as  sharp 
as  that;  but  the  natives  who  held  them, 
were  already  plunging  into  the  water  ;  the 
report  in  the  cabin  had  startled  them,  and 
the  discharge  from  the  main  top,  where 


138  ALNOMUC  :  OR 

his  friend  George.  He  flung  aloft  his  broad- 
sword, and  rushed  towards  the  Indian  with 
whom  George  was  still  struggling.  The 
poor  savage  seeing  death  impending,  sunk 
to  the  deck,  and  clasping  George's  knees 
begged  earnestly  for  his  life.  The  young 
man  was  unwilling  to  see  shed  the  blood  of 
a  fellow  creature :  he  stooped  forward  to 
protect  the  poor  wretch  :  "  Show  mercy, 
captain  Darrick,"  he  said,  "  show  mercy,  if 
you  would  ask  it  of  God." 

The  captain's  weapon  was  lowered  and 
his  countenance  changed  :  "  How  is  it 
George,  that  you  have  always  your  religion 
about  you,  while  I,  when  my  passions  are 
excited,  always  forget  mine  ?  " 

"I'm  not  sure  that  it's  just  so,  Darrick  : 
but  yet  I  always  do  wish  to  remember  God, 
for  I  know  he  is  never  forgetful  of  me. 
There  is  one  thing  however  I  had  deter- 
mined to  observe  this  voyage,  and  that  is,  to 
do  to  others  as  I  would  have  them  do  to  me. 
And  I  felt  particularly  called  to  do  so  with 
regard  to  these  poor  Indians.  If  I  were  to 
beg  my  life  of  any  one,  I  know  how  I  would 
have  him  act." 


THE   GOLDEN   RULE.  139 

"  But  then  the  rascals  have  been  so 
treacherous  !  " 

"  If  my  Saviour  did  not  despise  me  be- 
cause of  my  wickedness,  I  ought  not  to  re- 
fuse mercy  to  any  of  his  creatures.  There 
surely  is  more  difference  between  him  and 
me,  than  there  is  between  me  and  this  poor 
savage.  Perhaps,  considering  our  advan- 
tages, he  is  no  worse  than  I  am." 

"  Well  George,  you've  acted  on  your  rule 
nobly  this  voyage,  and  you've  been  blessed 
for  it :  I'm  sure  you've  been  a  blessing  to 
me  too.  After  all,  I  believe  it's  the  best 
principle  to  go  upon,  even  if  a  person  is 
governed  only  by  selfish  motives." 

Captain  Darrick  and  his  friend,  continued 
their  conversation  at  intervals,  as  they  had 
opportunity  while  busy  clearing  up  the  ship. 
Meantime  the  chief  who  had  given  rise  to  it, 
had  been  detained  a  prisoner,  and  commit- 
ted to  the  custody  of  Wass. 

It  was  about  three  hours  after  the  Indians 
had  left  the  vessel,  when  a  canoe  was  seen 
approaching  from  the  shore :  there  were  in 
it  a  woman  and  a  small  boy,  for  not  a  man 


140  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

dare  come  near  the  ship.  As  the  canoe 
drew  along  side,  the  woman  took  a  bundle 
of  otter  skins  upon  her  back,  and  climbed 
over  the  gangway.  It  was  the  wife  of  the 
Chieftain,  come  to  ransom  her  husband. 

Neither  captain  Darrick  nor  his  friend, 
could  help  shedding  tears,  when  they  saw 
the  faithfulness  of  the  poor  creature.  The 
former  remembered  her,  he  had  left  in  his 
own  land ;  and  he  blessed  God  who  had 
provided  woman,  as  a  help  meet  for  the  man 
whom  he  had  made. 

It  may  be  supposed,  captain  Darrick  very 
readily  liberated  the  chieftain  at  the  inter- 
cession of  his  wife,  who  was  overjoyed, 
when  she  saw  him  once  more  at  liberty. 
She  threw  down  her  package  of  skins  at  the 
feet  of  the  captain :  the  skins  would  be 
valued  at  several  hundred  dollars  in  Canton, 
yet  both  she  and  her  husband,  refused  to 
receive  any  thing  in  return,  so  grateful  were 
they  for  the  preservation  of  his  life.  More- 
over, he  freely  communicated  to  the  super- 
cargo, the  intelligence  that  the  conspiracy 
had  extended  to  two  other  places  on  the 


THE   GOLDEN   RULE.  141 

coast,  where  the  Indians  intended  to  make 
an  attempt  upon  the  ship,  should  she  visit 
them. 

George  was  thankful  for  this  information, 
which  would  place  them  on  their  guard  ; 
and  captain  Darrick,  expressed  his  surprise 
at  finding  so  much  honesty  in  a  Northwest 
Indian.  "  The  events  of  this  voyage,"  he 
said,  "  have  convinced  me,  that  no  one  can 
ever  be  a  loser  even  in  this  world  by  acting 
on  Christian  principles.  The  old  saying  is 
true  that  it  is  '  folly  to  throw  away  the  good 
will  of  a  dog  ? '  We've  had  it  proved,  that 
no  one  is  so  abandoned  and  no  one  so  ig- 
norant, that  they  cannot  be  sensible  of  a 
kindness  :  nor  is  any  so  weak  that  he  can- 
not find  opportunity  to  return  it.  And  since 
we  find  it  now  in  one  of  the  degraded  na- 
tives of  this  coast,  we  may  consider  grati- 
tude as  a  prevailing  trait  in  the  human 
character." 

"  It  is  very  far  from  being  shown  by  all 
who  receive  kindness : "  George  replied, 
"  nevertheless,  I  believe  it  is  the  best  policy 
to  do  to  others  as  we  would  have  them  do 


142  ALNOMUC  :    OR 

to  us,  even  if  we  consider  only  the  present 
benefit  to  ourselves.  And  we  can  never 
lose  our  reward  for  doing  good  to  our  fellow 
creatures,  even  should  we  receive  no  return 
of  gratitude  from  them :  the  Saviour  for 
whose  sake  we  do  it,  will  see  us  recom- 
pensed. However  I  have  no  doubt  that 
gratitude  is  a  feeling  natural  to  every  hu- 
man heart :  and  yet,  when  the  greatest 
benefits  have  been  received,  there  is  fre- 
quently no  return  of  gratitude  !  " 

"  I  don't  remember  any  such  instance." 

"  I  think  you  must  have  known  many. 
Suppose  when  you  was  about  to  cut  down 
that  chief,  I  had  seen  no  other  way  to  save 
him  but  by  bowing  my  head  over  his,  and 
that  I  had  thus  received  the  blow  on  my 
own  neck,  and  lost  my  life  to  preserve  his. 
Do  you  not  think  he  would  be  worse  than 
a  brute  if  he  had  felt  no  sense  of  gratitude  ?  " 

"  Surely  I  do." 

"  Certainly  a  man  can  show  no  greater 
love,  than  to  lay  down  his  life  for  his  friend. 
What  must  we  say  then  of  him,  who  dies 
for  his  enemy  !  And  how  many  are  there, 


THE    GOLDEN   RULE.  143 

who  know  that  the  meek  and  gentle  Jesus 
suffered  and  died  for  their  sake,  and  yet, 
continue  unmindful  of  his  benefits — and 
still,  remain  his  enemies  !  " 

"  I  am  ashamed  to  think,  how  many  years 
it  was  so  with  me.  Most  men  would  be 
ashamed  of  ingratitude  to  a  fellow  creature, 
who  still  forget  their  greatest  Benefactor  !  " 

"And  of  those  who  have  submitted  to 
Christ,  who  call  themselves  by  his  name, 
and  are  hoping  for  salvation  through  his 
blood,  how  many  are  there,  who  make  a 
return  of  love  in  any  measure  proportioned 
to  the  benefits  they  have  received  at  his 
hand.  If  they  loved  him,  would  they  not 
keep  his  commandments  :  if  they  did  that, 
would  not  more  efforts  be  made  for  the  con- 
version of  the  heathen  world ;  and  then, 
even  these  poor  Indians  would  become  less 
degraded.  Surely  Christians  should  do,  as 
they  would  be  done  by  :  if  they  were 
groping  in  darkness  and  in  the  region  of  the 
shadow  of  death,  would  they  not  be  thank- 
ful to  any,  who  would  cast  a  light  upon 
their  path  :  if  they  were  going  on  to  certain 


144      ALNOMUC  :    OR   THE   GOLDEN   RULE. 

destruction,  would  they  not  be  glad,  if  any 
one  would  direct  them  into  the  way  of  life. 
If  they  could  come  in  contact  with  these 
poor  degraded  creatures,  as  we  have,  Dar- 
rick,  this  voyage,  I  think  they  would  be 
more  active  to  do  them  good  as  I  hope  we 
shall  be  hereafter." 

If  any  reader  of  these  pages,  has  hereto- 
fore, been  forgetful  of  the  Saviour's  kind- 
ness in  dying  for  him,  I  hope  he  will  now 
repent  of  his  base  ingratitude.  But  if  he  be 
a  professed  disciple  of  Jesus,  I  trust  he  will 
not  be  content  to  wrap  himself  up  in  his  own 
mercies,  forgetful  of  those  for  whom  the 
same  Redeemer  died,  but  who  are  still 
dwelling  in  heathen  darkness. 


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